Check out how much effort they put into explaining how agonized and principled his decision was, and how the articles emphasize that the senior Black players on his team released statements supporting him:
Heat forward Andre Iguodala, a member of the National Basketball Players Association's executive committee, said he respected Leonard's choice.
"On the one hand, we're saying, 'We want you to see things from our perspective,'" Iguodala said. "But by saying that, I also have to see things from his perspective. And I can see where he's coming from."
Heat captain Udonis Haslem had multiple conversations with Leonard in recent days about his decision. Haslem has made several things clear; he originally wished to see Leonard kneel, but after those talks he came away with understanding — and vowed the Heat would support their teammate.
As the song ended, Haslem was the first to tap fists with Leonard.
(Now his defense is that he didn't fully understand the slur he used today.)