Over the last few days, NBA players have been talking about what to do in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake — a Wisconsin man who was shot by police eight times and is now paralyzed from the waist down.
On Wednesday, they figured it out. The Milwaukee Bucks chose to boycott game 5 against the Orlando Magic in protest of police brutality.
The game’s tip-off was set for 4:10 p.m. EST. When time came for the game to start, the Bucks refused to leave the locker room. Top NBA executives posted up outside of their locker room, according to reports, before they were eventually told the Bucks weren’t going to play.
The Bucks didn't come out of the locker room for their game against Orlando & now the Magic have left the court. Players around the NBA Bubble have been discussing boycotting games in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting. @WojESPN says NBA officials are now talking to the Bucks.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) August 26, 2020
The Milwaukee Bucks have decided to boycott Game 5, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
It’s unclear what happens next. Normally, when a team fails to appear for a game they forfeit automatically and are fined, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. But it’s unclear if that will apply to Milwaukee here.
There is “failure to appear” language in the Operations Manual.
– forfeiture of the game
– up to $5M fineThat doesn’t mean it will be applied in the case of Milwaukee boycotting G5.
Like everything this year, we are dealing with situations that have never happened before.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) August 26, 2020
And the Magic aren’t accepting a forfeit.
Bucks players are in locker room attempting to reach the attorney general of Wisconsin, Josh Kaul, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Magic players are leaving the arena soon — not accepting the Bucks‘ forfeit.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 26, 2020
One thing here is for sure — we haven’t quite seen anything like this in recent years. This is an entire team refusing to play as a means to stand up for what they believe in. We’ve seen protest in sports before, but rarely do we have moments like this.
NBA players applauded the move by the Bucks after getting the news, including LeBron James.
*WARNING: There is some NSFW language included in these tweets*
FUCK THIS MAN!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 26, 2020
Shoot Hoops, Not People. pic.twitter.com/loHk0XJsvo
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) August 26, 2020
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 26, 2020
Respect @bucks!!!!
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) August 26, 2020
WE DEMAND JUSTICE!!!
— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) August 26, 2020
✊🏽
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) August 26, 2020
✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
— Maurice Harkless (@moe_harkless) August 26, 2020
Bigger Than Basketball ✊🏽🖤 https://t.co/335OIP5Zay
— Brian Bowen II 🏀 (@tugs_) August 26, 2020
NBA fans reacted the same way.
I fully support whatever decision the players make. Enough is enough.
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) August 26, 2020
On the same day 4 years ago that @Kaepernick7 protested peacefully during the anthem for social justice, the Milwaukee Bucks boycott an NBA playoff game in protest of the unjust treatment against Black men and women. I’m speechless. We are truly seeing the fruits of his labor.
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) August 26, 2020
august 26, 2016:
colin kaepernick sits on the bench for the first time during the national anthem in a packers-49ers preseason game.august 26, 2020:
milwaukee bucks boycott playoff game vs. orlando magic.— mike taddow (@taddmike) August 26, 2020
Salute to those who are standing for what they believe in. Powerful move by everyone involved on the Milwaukee Bucks side. https://t.co/gRM5Imhin7
— Ibrahim H. (@KingOfQueenz) August 26, 2020
Bucks player Sterling Brown had a knee to his neck and was punched by Milwaukee PD for parking incorrectly.
Former Buck John Henson had the cops called on him while shopping for jewelry, just for being black.
This is personal to them.
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) August 26, 2020
Good on the Bucks. This is what taking a stand looks like.
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