Michael Jordan, who was notably silent on racial politics during his legendary basketball career, has joined a growing cast of sporting personalities calling for change after the death of George Floyd.
Jordan released a statement on Sunday as often-violent protests spread in cities across the US after Floyd, a black man shown on video gasping for breath while handcuffed as a white policeman knelt on his neck in Minneapolis, died.
The incident has triggered demands for change and justice over police brutality and racism.
"I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry," wrote Jordan, as he called for continued peaceful protests.
"I see and feel everyone's pain, outrage and frustration.
"I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of colour in our country.
"We have had enough.
"I don't have the answers but our collective voices show strength and the inability to be divided by others."
NBA stars Tobias Harris of Philadelphia 76ers, Malcolm Brogdon of Indiana Pacer and Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown took part in protests over the weekend.
LeBron James was among the NBA stars to speak out in recent days on social media while other American sports people, including former NRL quarterback Colin Kaepernick - who was dumped from the league in 2016 for protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem before games - did likewise.
Tennis player Serena Williams tweeted Nike's powerful 'Don't Do It' video along with the message: "Don't pretend there's not a problem in America".
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton posted #BlackLivesMatter to his 5.7 million Twitter follows, which featured a video of a young black American girl in tears about inherent racism in society.
He also criticised the "white dominated sport" of motor racing for its silence on the issue.
In Germany, four young soccer Bundesliga players made their feelings known.
England's 20-year-old winger Jadon Sancho, 21-year-old Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi and 22-year-old Marcus Thuram made statements on the field on Sunday, following the example set by Schalke's American midfielder Weston McKennie, 21, a day earlier.
Borussia Dortmund's Sancho removed his jersey after a goal to reveal a T-shirt with the handwritten message "Justice for George Floyd".
His teammate Hakimi followed his example when he scored to reveal the same message.
"We shouldn't fear speaking out for what's right, we have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together! #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd," Sancho posted on Instagram.
Thuram took a knee, evoking memories of Kaepernick's protests, after scoring for Borussia Moenchengladbach.
"No explanation needed," Gladbach said on Twitter with a picture of Thuram kneeling.
McKennie wore an armband with the handwritten message "Justice for George" around his left arm.
A number of NHL players voiced a call to stand together for change while New York Mets baseball star Pete Alonso spoke out against racial injustice.
"I will never know what it feels like to be discriminated against because the colour of my skin. To anyone who faces this type of discrimination, I will fight for you and be an ally," he posted on Instagram.
