The National Anthem has been sparking protests at sporting events for the last month, and the NBA appears to be next.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a kneel during the National Anthem before the team’s NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers on September 1, and Kaepernick’s act of protest against social injustices has sparked similar protests across the nation.

Duane Brown of the Houston Texans raised his fist during the National Anthem prior to his team’s game against the New England Patriots last week.

Brittany Boyd, who plays for the New York Liberty, sat on the bench with her head bowed during the national anthem in a WNBA basketball playoff game against the Phoenix Mercury on September 24.

Megan Rapinoe knelt during the National Anthem before the match between the United States and the Netherlands on September 18.

It hit home in Denver as Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall also took a stand and decided to kneel during the National Anthem.

Colin Kaepernick’s protest against social injustices has opened discussion and debate on a national level, and with the NBA season just around the corner, new voices will soon be speaking up, too.

Some Nuggets, including Kenneth Faried, have been feeling the urge to speak out for months.

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Whether that means he, or someone else, will make a statement during the Anthem or not, the Nuggets’ braintrust — Josh Kroenke, Tim Connelly and Michael Malone — won’t stop him or anyone else from speaking out.

“First of all, I think we live in the greatest country in the world,” Kroenke said at the Nuggets’ media day on Monday, “but clearly there are some serious issues facing our society today. I think throughout history athletes have done a great job to bring awareness to certain social issues, and that’s what you’re seeing today. As far as the Pepsi Center and Denver Nuggets are concerned, we’ll proudly continue to play the National Anthem and honor our military the way that we always have, but we’ll also respect our athletes constitutional right to freedom of speech, which is a pillar of our great union of the United States of America.”

Malone backed up Kroenke, adding a component that often gets lost in the discussion: a solution.

“Aside from the protest ,one thing we really want to do is try to initiate conversation within the community,” Malone said. “It’s one thing to protest, but let’s try and find a solution vocally and get conversation going so that we can get communities to work together and build those bonds of trust that are not there right now. If we can get that going, I think that’s the more important issue.”

As far as how he feels about his players’ choice to kneel or sit during the anthem, Malone added, “The anthem is one thing, and we’ll respect their freedom of speech, as Josh mentioned, but let’s take it a step further and find ways to help the situation. That’s a goal of all of ours, to stimulate that type of conversation and get communities and law enforcement working together and try and get that trust back that we so desperately need.”

And the team appears to stand behind their coach’s words.

“Things have to change,” Jameer Nelson said, “because there is a real issue going on.”

When asked about if he plans on making a statement, he said, “I don’t plan on doing anything, but I do feel like people want to know things and things are going to continue to happen until not only blacks come together, but all races come together and make a real stand.”

I asked if Colin Kaepernick’s stance was the kickstarter for the frenzy, and he said:

“Not really. It’s now just magnified because social media and camera phones are finally spotlighting the fears that black males have always had to go through and everyone finally gets to witness it with their own two eyes.”

With so many athletes from all levels making a stand, Nelson expects NBA players to be next.

“I think NBA players will start making a stand, because we’re unified,” Nelson said. “I just think that it’s something we have to converse about and stand up for if its something we truly believe in.”