Professional basketball has long evoked the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bill Russell stood with the civil rights leader during the March on Washington, while Oscar Robertson helped organize a memorial game for King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the wake of his assassination.

The Memphis Grizzlies are in action at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on MLK Day. Follow along for live updates.

Monday’s win was the most improbable, with the Grizzlies erasing a double-digit deficit to earn an impressive 108-106 comeback win over the Timberwolves on MLK Day at FedExForum. The Grizzlies trailed 100-95 before reeling off an 11-0 run to take a lead they ultimately never relinquished.

The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will once again be celebrated and honored Monday in events around the nation.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the NBA honors Dr. King’s enduring legacy through community-focused initiatives and thought-provoking reflections. The day is both a celebration of his vision and a call to action, reminding all of the work still needed to achieve equality and justice.

It was first proposed four days after King's 1968 assassination outside a Memphis motel. It took 15 years until it became a federal holiday.