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Lakers players wear 'I Can't Breathe' shirts before game against Kings

Lakers players wore a black t-shirt bearing "I Can't Breathe" during warmups before Tuesday night's game against the Kings in Los Angeles. The phrase is comprised of the last words uttered by Eric Garner, a 43-year-old man who was placed in a chokehold before passing away in July after police tried to arrest him for selling untaxed cigarettes.

SI Wire

Lakers players wore black t-shirts bearing "I Can't Breathe" during warmups before Tuesday night's game against the Kings in Los Angeles.

The phrase is comprised of the last words uttered by Eric Garner, a 43-year-old man who was placed in a chokehold before passing away in July after police tried to arrest him for selling untaxed cigarettes.

A grand jury's recent decision not to indict an officer involved in Garner's death inspired a wave of protests.

A number of NBA players -- including Cavaliers star LeBron James and Bulls star Derrick Rose -- have worn the same shirt before recent games. Several NFL players have also supported the message.

• DEITSCH: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving address reasons for 'I can't breathe' shirts

James spoke about the significance of the message prior to Monday night's game against the Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“If it feels important to me then I respond,” James said. “If it doesn’t, I don’t. There are a lot of issues I have not talked about. For me, it is about knowledge and about a gut feeling that hits home for you. You feel it, and go about it.”

The shirts were placed on the back of Lakers players' chairs in the locker room before they took the floor. 

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