VIDEO: Spencer Haywood talks about Athletes and Activism

Here are video clips of former Seattle SuperSonics star Spencer Haywood speaking about Athletes and Activism on Thursday at Edmonds Community College as part of the school’s Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations.

Haywood’s biggest activist moment came when he challenged the NBA’s player eligibility rules, which barred players from the league until their class graduated from college. That case, brought in 1971, went to the U.S. Supreme Court, with the court ruling 7-2 in Haywood’s favor.

Here Haywood discusses the difficulties he faced after winning the case:

Spencer Haywood on activism 1 from Everett Herald on Vimeo.

Now Haywood discusses his work as chairman of the board of the National Basketball Retired Players Association:

Spencer Haywood on activism 2 from Everett Herald on Vimeo.