The Houston Rockets are in the midst of discussing plans to support and honor both the victims and families of Friday’s school shooting in Santa Fe. The plan is to do something for Thursday’s Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is expected to be a central figure in the effort, according to Rockets CEO Tad Brown.
It’s an issue that has hit the Rockets hard, given how many of them have school-aged children of their own. Superstar point guard Chris Paul, who also happens to be the president of the NBA Players Association, has been vocal about what he thinks needs to happen in the wake of yet another school shooting. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle has more:
“We’re getting more information,” Brown said. “Tilman is very engaged with it. He and I have been talking about (what can be done.) I’d call it a recognition of the importance of supporting all of our community. We’re actively trying to figure out how we can best impact those people affected by it.
“It’s amazing that these things seem to be more and more commonplace now. This hits close to home because it’s right down the street. We’re going to make sure we get all the appropriate information and deliver the appropriate tribute and support that we can.”
Rockets guard Chris Paul called for action on Friday and said he was pleased to learn that there were students in Santa Fe that appreciated the message.
“It’s about people in general,” Paul said. “It’s not about the location, it’s about the human race, and me and my wife were talking about — I have two kids of my own who I take to school … and you hope they come back to you.
“Like I said, prayers go out to those families and everyone that was affected by it. This is becoming somewhat of the norm and shouldn’t be.
“Hopefully our team and our organization, I’m sure we’re going to try to do things to try to help those families that are affected to give them those bright spots in times like this.”
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