Ex-NBA star Shawn Marion says the LAST thing players should do is sit out the 2020 season ... saying sitting out will diminish their chances at making a bigger difference in the fight against racism.
Superstars like Kyrie Irving have expressed their uncertainty over restarting the season in the middle of the Black Lives Matter movement ... with the Nets star saying players' focus should be on fighting for social justice.
Ex-NBAer Stephen Jackson -- who was friends with George Floyd -- sided with Kyrie ... saying, "now ain't the time to be playing basketball, y'all."
But, the Matrix disagrees with the idea of sitting out ... saying the biggest platform to fight for social justice is on the NBA stage.
"In order for you to advocate and go out here and show what you're fighting for and the causes, you need to be on TV," Marion says.
"Social media is a great platform, but TV is a bigger platform because you can post whatever you post on TV, you can post to your social media platform."
"So, with the season resuming, it adds to that cause."
Matrix -- who acknowledges Uncle Drew has a valid point -- says players will be able to speak out in interviews and press conferences ... which brings a much bigger audience than a Twitter account.
But, as for sitting? -- "I don't agree with that."
"What is sitting out, boycotting, not playing the season -- what is that gonna accomplish really?"
Marion says the most effective way to make a change is economically ... and that starts with bringing ball back in July.