While the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks both have an opportunity to close out their respective first round series tonight, the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs is set to begin tomorrow, starting with Game 1 between the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors. But with the recent shooting of 29 year old Jacob Blake seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, players on both sides have indicated that they are discussing radical action, including electing not to play in Game 1 or even leave the NBA campus altogether.
According to Marc Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated, who is inside the bubble, both teams discussed potential action on Tuesday night and are expected to come to a decision on how they will proceed as a group heading into Thursday’s scheduled Game 1.
Raptors & Celtics players met last night at their hotel about possibly boycotting tomorrow Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and other potential measures in light of the Jacob Blake shooting, a source told @TheUndefeated. Source from both teams says everything on table.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 26, 2020
Celtics star Jayson Tatum said that it’s an “ongoing discussion,” between both teams on what they will do.
Jayson Tatum on a boycott: "It’s an active discussion. It obviously started with the Raptors and that’s who we’re playing. People are upset and angry and we’re just trying to come together and figure out a way how we can do something.'' @BrocktonSports @sports_ledger
— Jim Fenton (@JFenton_ent) August 26, 2020
So far, only the Celtics and Raptors have discussed a boycott among the teams that are still in the playoffs. According to Yahoo’s Chris Haynes, NBPA President Chris Paul and Vice President Andre Iguodala are among the high ranking union members showing support for whatever the players decide.
