Raptors G Fred VanVleet said the decision to play in the bubble was "supposed to not be in vain"NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The NBPA Exec Committee is in “active discussions with players who are seeking guidance on the logistics of potentially boycotting games” following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, according to sources cited by Chris Haynes of YAHOO SPORTS. Sources said that an assembly “organized by players who are emotionally traumatized by the latest police-involved shooting of an African American” was held last night. Sources added that Thunder G and NBPA President Chris Paul as well as Heat F and NBPA First VP Andre Iguodala were “in attendance to show support.” Sources indicated that players “began reaching out to the committee in recent days, sharing that they’re not in the right frame of mind to play basketball.” There is a “sizable faction of players who are psychologically distraught.” Sources also said that the union’s approach is to “educate players on the pros and cons of boycotting games and reassuring them that they would be supported regardless of whatever they decide to do.” Sources noted that there is “ongoing dialogue on what more could be done inside the bubble to raise awareness to racial injustice in an effort to enact change and thwart police brutality toward people of color” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/26).
PLAYERS NOT IN RIGHT MINDSET: SI.com's Chris Mannix reported Raptors G Fred VanVleet yesterday "didn’t rule out a boycott" following the shooting that led Blake to be paralyzed from the waist down. Celtics G Marcus Smart admitted not playing “is in the back of our minds.” Mannix noted NBA players had "already begun to question the impact their voices were having" on social justice from inside the Orlando bubble, and the incident in Kenosha, Wisc., has "created even more." Any optimism about making an impact that existed when players entered the bubble has been "replaced by a sense of hopelessness and despair" (SI.com, 8/25). In Boston, Gary Washburn writes this is "not some type of artificial front to attract attention." Many players were "devastated by the video, feeling even worse because they are confined to the bubble until their team is eliminated." While a boycott is "highly unlikely, it must be understood that the players are questioning their impact because they are not allowed in their communities right now," and that is a "helpless feeling" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/26).
TEAMS FOCUSED ON SHOOTING: ESPN.com's Andrews & Bontemps reported the Raptors held a team meeting before yesterday's practice to "discuss how they could respond to the shooting ... including potentially not playing." Celtics coach Brad Stevens said that his team had a "similar team meeting" yesterday. While he added that "no one had specifically told him they didn't want to play, he could see the impact Blake's shooting had had on his team" (ESPN.com, 8/25). Raptors coach Nick Nurse said the players on the team "want to make more of an impact." Nurse: "They want things to stop, so they may have to move things up another notch. They want more action and they’re seeking answers." He added, "If our team wants to do something that they feel is necessary to make change and an impact, we will support them" (SPORTSNET.ca, 8/25).
HARD QUESTIONS BEING ASKED: In Toronto, Steve Simmons writes players are "asking questions now about what they can do and maybe what they can’t do." Wearing T-shirts and taking a knee with arms wrapped in arms in an attempt to "bring people together and having their voices heard, is as noble a gesture as there has been in modern professional sports," and the NBA statements have been "loud and powerful." But "strong as they are, big as they are and loud as they are, are they strong enough, big enough and loud enough to defeat police brutality, to stomp out systemic racism?" (TORONTO SUN, 8/26). VanVleet said, "Coming down here and making the choice to play was supposed to not be in vain, but it’s just starting to feel like everything we’re doing is just going through the motions and nothing’s really changing. And here we are again with another unfortunate incident." In Toronto, Doug Smith writes the statements of protest so far -- slogans on jerseys, apparel, "turning media sessions into awareness sessions -- have been good," but "perhaps not good enough." Celtics G Jaylen Brown: "The NBA has done a great job, initially, to kind of give us the platform to speak on certain things ... but I do kind of feel like it is kind of lessened as the playoffs have gotten started. Things have kind of diminished" (TORONTO STAR, 8/26).
FROM HIGH HOPES TO LOW FEELINGS: YAHOO SPORTS' Vincent Goodwill wrote the NBA’s players came to the Orlando bubble for "multiple reasons: to finish their season and save the future of their sport, to competitively crown a champion and to raise awareness to these issues -- even if one could say they worked with the system as opposed to fighting it." They were taking on "such a Herculean task that ridding the world of this illness couldn’t be accomplished in two weeks or two months." That ambition "could be why the depths feel so low today." The "despair sets in when you realize that as powerful as you are, you can’t dictate the end of police brutality, nor do you know when -- or if -- it’ll actually occur" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/25). Jazz G Donovan Mitchell said, "The point of us coming down here was to create change, and I feel that we're doing a good job of that, but not good enough. It's obviously not going to happen overnight, but it's disgusting." Nuggets coach Michael Malone: "I don't think there is anything that we can do here that is going to stop what is happening across this country, with the latest example being Kenosha. ... By being here, we are isolated and we can't help where maybe we need to help. It is frustrating for a lot of players, a lot of coaches, to be here" (ESPN.com, 8/25).
MORE REAX FROM THE BUBBLE: Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, "It’s amazing why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back. It’s really so sad." Clippers G Lou Williams: "We came here to bring awareness and use our voices for other guys and sadly, we’re here and it’s still happening. We’re still seeing unarmed Black men get shot in the streets. It’s just ridiculous at this point. And I think it’s difficult being here when things like that are happening" (L.A. TIMES, 8/26). Lakers F LeBron James: "I got half of my brain locked in on the playoffs and the other half locked in on how I can help Black people become greater in America. And that’s what it’s all about" (L.A. TIMES, 8/26). The Celtics' Brown: "People post my jersey all the time, No. 7. And every time I look at my jersey now, what I see is a Black man being shot seven times. All America sees is his background report. It’s easier to see that than it is to see the truth" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/26).
