It's between rules mandating uniform dress among players and coaches having to wear sports coats. Clearly not exactly embracing the notion of players using their fame to speak out on issues unless it's within the guidelines laid out by the NBA.

The NFL is donating 89 million dollars over the next 7 years to social causes important to African-American communities (as determined by a coalition of players). Some players who had been in the initial players coalition did split off because they felt the donations were an attempt to cut off the protests, but most did not.

The NBA isn't doing that. Not to say the NBA (along with players and teams) didn't already do charity/non-profit work, but that they haven't done anything specifically related to the anthem protests in terms of monetary commitment.

The scenario isn't nearly as cut and dried as you seem to want to portray it as.