I know this issue has become almost impossible to talk about, with emotions running so high, and an inability to understand each other, but I'll give it a try, even though I might fail more than most. I am someone that has spent my life living both in Europe and in the US for large periods, and I'd like to think I have some opinions from how this all looks on the outside.
1) Let me start with the most basic fact to me. The US is NOT a systemically and ins utionally racist country! In fact, it is by far the most successful society in the world in integrating newcomers and people of different backgrounds and putting them on a successful life path. None of the European countries, often seen as a form of social welfare paradise, comes even close to achieving the same type of integration, even though (or maybe because) they have few less people with an immigration background. The level of success that immigrant from East Asia, South Asia, South-East Asia, Eastern Europe, and, most importantly Africa, - all regions with immense polical and social problems - have achieved in the US, and nowhere else, is a testament to this.
Therefore, calls for a complete overhaul of the country, re-writing of the cons ution, etc., will not only fall on def ears, they will most likely provoke backlash, and for good reasons. This is important because in order to make social changes, a movement has to engage most of society, instead of turning against it. And the US' ability to provide opportunities for people from all backgrounds must be cheered and highlighted, and put to good use, instead of denied and vilified.
2) Unfortunately, BLM, and other social movements coming from the left, are positioning themselves constantly as oppononents to the rest of society. Whether demanding white people leave their diners, or trivial issues like changing the way people use "male/female", movements will fail and antagonize the rest of society if they don't create a goal which benefits us all. Therefore, calls for "defunding the police" will be seen as outright dangerous from people that depend on the safety and security that police provides. This is bound to end in failure. MLK or Nelson Mandela's to other parts of their society was that integration of blacks would not hurt anyone, instead it would create stronger and more powerful societies from which all could benefit. Mandela even chose the rugby national team, a symbol for the white population of South Africa, as an example of how the integration of blacks could lead to more success for all of the country.
I think Donald Trump needs to be defeated. Whatever his policies, his tone, his behavior, his comments, are not what a society needs during crisis. Instead of lending a hand, he's way too hapy to throw gasoline on a fire and make a situation worse. As a President, he needs to do better. Unfortunately, the behavior of many from the left will not seem more concilliatory and rational to everyday people either. There is no way that a constant barrage of labeling everyone who disagrees with a movement as "racists/sexist/ phobe/transphobe/islamophobe, etc" will create any sort of movement that will be wide and large in its support.
3) NBA players need to be careful here. They need to come up with a clear agenda on how the issues that matter to them can be addresses, and can be done in a way that their communities can benefit from it. Otherwise, simpy deciding to stop playing because there are events that make them sad will not, and should not, be perceived by the rest of society as anything but a childish outburst by a few privileged millionaires which might hurt the league itself in the long-run.