'I can no longer stay silent,' says NBA legend Michael Jordan

He is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time and notoriously quiet on societal issues, but NBA legend Michael Jordan issued a statement Monday on the state of race relations and cop killings in the United States.

"I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers... I was raised by parents who taught me to love and respect people regardless of their race or background, so I am saddened and frustrated by the divisive rhetoric and racial tensions that seem to be getting worse as of late," wrote Jordan.

His full statement, titled 'I Can No Longer Stay Silent,' was posted on Undefeated.com.

As the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, Jordan is the only black franchise owner in the league.

He goes on to say he's putting his money where his mouth is.

"I am making contributions of $1 million each to two organizations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s newly established Institute for Community-Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund," wrote Jordan.

The six-time NBA champion lost his father in 1993 in a botched carjacking.

James Jordan was killed in North Carolina and his body was later found in a swamp.