After nearly 24 hours of uncertainty following a historic protest by the NBA’s 2020 Playoff teams, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday afternoon that the league’s players have decided to resume play in Orlando.
The report came the day after the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the floor to play Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic. Along with its own contest against the Magic, the NBA’s two other games scheduled for Wednesday evening were postponed.
Teams across other North American sports leagues followed suit, once again bringing international attention to a cause that has become near and dear to NBA players’ hearts — police brutality against the Black community.
The NBA's players have decided to resume the playoffs, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
In the aftermath of the strike, NBA players met and, according to multiple reports, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers recommended that the league’s players refuse to complete the season. Such an act would have resulted in the cancelation of at least two dozen games, with the financial ramifications being extraordinary.
At least at this point, the league’s players — including the Lakers and Clippers — have decided to resume play. According to Wojnarowski, the games could resume as soon as Friday.
There is a meeting of NBA owners and players set for later today, sources tell @MarcJSpears and me. The discussion is expected to include plans of action moving forward on social justice issues.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
At this point, it’s unclear as to what additional actions the players or league will take to further their cause, but the league’s owners were expected to meet on Thursday to discuss exactly that.
These are unprecedented times, and obviously, the NBA’s players have decided to take unprecedented actions.
