San Antonio star Patty Mills has called on the leaders of Australia "to do better" as governments urge against attending Black Lives Matter protests across the country.
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Mass rallies are expected to take place over the June long weekend, with tens of thousands planning to show solidarity with the global Black Lives Matter movement and call for an end to Indigenous Australian deaths in custody.
The NSW supreme court ruled a Sydney demonstration unlawful as it would breach coronavirus restrictions, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned against "importing the things that are happening overseas" in a radio interview.
Mills, who has long used his elevated platform to voice Indigenous concerns, rebutted Morrison's comments and said Australia has been confronting the same issue for decades.
"Leaders of Australia - We can do better," Mills wrote on Twitter.
"We can learn from what's happening in the United States and apply to the actions taken regarding 'black deaths in custody' in Australia.
"Any Australian leader who thinks that the issue of 'black deaths in custody' is a foreign matter is not truly reflecting the concerns and sufferings of black families and communities across our country who have been grieving and seeking justice for decades on this same exact matter - 'black deaths in custody' Australia.
"It doesn't need to be 'imported' because this behavior has already existed in our own backyard for decades."
Mills joined in public outcry against a local councillor from the Hills District in Sydney, who refused calls to say an Acknowledgment of Country at official meetings and events.
The Canberra-born NBA star called out councillor Brooke Collins' behaviour after saying he would refuse to "single out one race" on Mabo Day.
"This is not the way any Australian should speak, especially a recipient of an OAM and representative of the local government council," Mills said.
"For people like Councillor Brooke Collins OAM, Reconciliation Week is created to promote respect, trust and positive relationships for the wider Australian community - which he represents and has been endorsed by the Australian Government."
Mills delievered a Welcome to Country as part of the first NBA Indigenous Heritage Night and recently launched the Team Mills Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation aimed to support minority groups and underprivileged families.
The Spurs has released videos on social media from its members, outlining how racism impacts the organisation in a bid to help drive change in the San Antonio community.
Basketball great Michael Jordan and his Jordan Brand on Friday pledged $US100 million ($A143.5 million) over the next 10 years to organisations dedicated to ensuring racial equality.
The announcement came as protesters have taken to the streets in U.S. cities over systemic racism and police brutality, following the death last week of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, while a white policeman knelt on his neck in Minneapolis.
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"Black lives matter. This isn't a controversial statement," read a statement from Jordan and his Jordan Brand.
"Until the ingrained racism that allows our country's institutions to fail is completely eradicated, we will remain committed to protecting and improving the lives of Black people."
Jordan, a six-time NBA champion who led the Chicago Bulls' dynasty in the 1990s, is a Basketball Hall of Famer who owns the Charlotte Hornets.
Earlier this week, Jordan voiced outrage over the Floyd incident, saying he was "truly pained and plain angry" and that he stood with those "calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of colour in our country."
- With AAP