On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers took a 3-2 series lead over Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks with a 154-111 blowout victory.
After the game, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was asked about the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot in the back seven times by police in Kenosha on Sunday.
When speaking about the Blake shooting, the veteran coach delivered an emotional response inside the Orlando Bubble.
Via @NBAonTNT on Twitter:
It’s just so sad. What stands out to me just watching the Republican [National] Convention, and they’re spewing this fear. All you hear is Donald Trump and all of them talking about fear. We’re the ones getting killed. We’re the ones getting shot. We’re the ones that were denied to live in certain communities. We’ve been hung. We’ve been shot. And all you do is keep hearing about fear. It’s amazing to me why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back.
“It’s amazing to me why we keep loving this country and this country does not love us back.”
Doc Rivers delivers an emotional message on the police shooting of Jacob Blake. pic.twitter.com/A0T26OfsDG
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 26, 2020
Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson thanked Rivers for his powerful message. Thompson shared prayers for Blake and his family, along with those demanding justice in Kenosha.
Via @KlayThompson on Twitter:
Thank you for this Doc ! So powerful and nothing but facts! My prayers go out to Jacob & his family, and to the ones on the frontlines in Kenosha demanding justice ! https://t.co/GaQe8pnkbR
— klay thompson (@KlayThompson) August 26, 2020
Golden State’s two-time Most Valuable Player Steph Curry tweeted he was “proud” to know the Clippers coach, saying there is “so much truth” in every word of his comments.
Via @StephenCurry30 on Twitter:
Proud to know you @DocRivers. Sometimes we don’t know what to say every time this hurt happens. We Need Change! There is so much Truth in every Every word of this. Y’all wake up. https://t.co/PsK4FSnqzh
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) August 26, 2020
On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted game five of their playoff series against the Orlando Magic in response to the Blake shooting in Kenosha.
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Following the Bucks’ decision, players from the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets boycotted their scheduled games. The league later postponed all three playoff contests.
In wake of the Blake shooting and NBA protests, the Golden State Warriors released a statement.
Via @warriors on Twitter:
Statement from the Golden State Warriors#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/RZdejmzs6K
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 27, 2020