LeBron James, Chris Paul consulted Barack Obama for advice on NBA return

Although Barack Obama no longer is president, his influence in the lives of many still is there. That influence stretched into the NBA as players boycotted games in the wake of Jacob Blake's shooting, and Obama provided a voice of reason for players.

LeBron James and Chris Paul were part of a small group of players who received advice from Obama in recent days as players tried to decide how to proceed amid the ongoing social justice protests. Katie Hill, a spokeswoman for Obama, said in a statement to the New York Times:

"As an avid basketball fan, President Obama speaks regularly with players and league officials. When asked he was happy to provide advice on Wednesday night to a small group of NBA players seeking to leverage their immense platforms for good after their brave and inspiring strike in the wake of Jacob Blake's shooting."

"They discussed establishing a social justice committee to ensure that the players' and league's actions this week led to sustained, meaningful engagement on criminal justice and police reform."

Obama reportedly was in favor of players returning to the court once they were able to work with owners to implement a strategy that would bring change.

Players on Thursday voted to resume the playoffs on Saturday, and the NBA and NBPA also announced a number of initiatives to promote racial equality and social justice. 

In a joint statement, the NBA and players' association announced they will establish a social justice coalition, convert arena facilities into voting locations and create and include advertising spots in playoff games that promote greater civic engagement.

The focal point of the resumption of the NBA season in Orlando has been on the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against racial inequality. Since being in Orlando, many players have used their media availability as an opportunity to address racial inequality in America and bring awareness to the shootings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others.

The boycotting and postponement of games also reached other leagues as well. Various NFL teams canceled training camp on Thursday. The WNBA also opted to sit out games. The NHL decided to not play games on Thursday or Friday.