In response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted game five of their postseason series against the Orlando Magic.
On Sunday, Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot in the back seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The city of Kenosha is located just 40 miles south of Milwaukee.
The historic day in sports history caused a chain of reactions from players across the NBA. After the Bucks tilt against the Magic did not tipoff, a trio of members from the Golden State Warriors chimed in on Twitter.
Via @Dami0nLee on Twitter:
BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL!
✊🏽🤞🏽🙏🏽— Damion Lee (@Dami0nLee) August 26, 2020
Via @epaschall on Twitter:
For those who don’t understand what is going on, it will always be bigger than basketball! We demand change!!! We demand justice! Have a blessed day! ✊🏾🙏🏾
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) August 26, 2020
Say it louder for the people in the back! 🗣🗣🗣 https://t.co/CJKewnVgs9
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) August 26, 2020
🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣 https://t.co/GBccVUIH8X
— Eric Paschall (@epaschall) August 26, 2020
Via @quese on Twitter:
If you don’t understand wats wrong with this you’re a part of the problem. https://t.co/LjULy7tipg
— Marquese Chriss (@quese) August 26, 2020
Former Golden State point guards Shaun Livingston and Baron Davis praised the players for standing in unity.
Via @ShaunLivingston on Twitter:
LOVE and RESPECT to the Players and Personnel speaking out… United! ✊🏽
— Shaun Livingston (@ShaunLivingston) August 26, 2020
Via @BaronDavis on Twitter:
The power of a unified voice can never be denied ✊🏿
— Baron Davis (@BaronDavis) August 26, 2020
After the postponement of NBA games at Disney World, the Golden State Warriors released a statement in response to the shooting of Blake.
Via @warriors on Twitter:
The recent events in Kenosha, Wis., where yet another young Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot by police, are appalling. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of an unacceptable pattern across our country, not only in recent months with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, but for many painful years. We support NBA players in taking actions designed to shed light and send a loud and clear message: enough is enough. We are united in our stance against racial injustice.
Statement from the Golden State Warriors#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/RZdejmzs6K
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 27, 2020
Following the Bucks protest, two other playoff games were boycotted by players in the Orlando Bubble. The league has postponed postseason game fives of the Los Angeles Lakers-Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder-Houston Rockets series.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, NBA players are meeting in the Orlando Bubble to discuss how they’ll progress from Wednesday’s protests. Former Warrior and current NBPA VP Andre Iguodala is slated to speak at the meeting.
Every NBA player is invited to join the meeting in The Bubble at 8 PM to discuss how they'll proceed from today's boycotts, sources tell @ZachLowe_NBA and me.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
Before a packed room of teams in a hotel ballroom at Disney, the discussion is centering on whether to continue with the playoffs — or end the season, sources tell ESPN. So far, there seems to be momentum not to play the three playoff games on Thursday, but nothing's decided.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
So far, speakers in the meeting of NBA players tonight: NBPA president Chris Paul, NBPA VP Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver and Clippers coach Doc Rivers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
The league has yet to announce if Thursday’s three playoff games will start as scheduled. News surrounding the status of Thursday’s games should follow after Wednesday night’s meeting in Orlando.
