- All day today there was uncertainty related to the continuation of the NBA Playoffs as players pushed social justice actions after the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, writes SBJ's John Lombardo. Numerous players floated out possible boycotts of games . ... Well, tonight, it’s unclear where the playoffs will go from here as players forced the postponement of three playoff games.
- The NBA postponed all three tips in Orlando after players on the Bucks this afternoondecided to boycott Game 5 against the Magic. Now, questions loom over how many more games will be postponed, with all players in the bubble set to meet tonight to discuss next steps. At presstime, reports surfaced saying that WNBA players also will not play tonight in their respective bubble.
- Bucks Senior VP Alex Lasry tweeted out his support of the players boycott just after the Bucks left the floor prior to their 4 pm ET tip. “Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and org shows that we’re fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change.” The Magic also said in a statement that they "stand united with the NBA Office, the National Basketball Players Association, the Milwaukee Bucks and the rest of the league condemning bigotry, racial injustice and the unwarranted use of violence by police against people of color.”
- Meanwhile, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports the Mariners, who "have the most Black players of any team in MLB," will not play tonight's scheduled game against the Padres.
REACTIONS TO NBA PROTEST PRAISE PLAYERS' COURAGE
- LeBron James took to Twitter shortly after the Bucks protest became public, saying, "FUCK THIS MAN!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT." Other reactions on social pinpointed tonight's protest from the NBA bubble as a seminal moment in sports history.
- The L.A. Times' Bill Shaikin: "In 1968, amid protests over racial injustice, Tommie Smith and John Carlos competed in the Olympics, then raised fists and were sent home. In 2020, amid protests over racial injustice, NBA players aren't competing. They have recognized their power."
- FS1's Nick Wright: "The unrest in cities ending. Sports returning. America getting some sense of normalcy back. There’s an answer to all of this: America, starting with the police, start treating Black people as actual people & full blown citizens.That appears it might just be too much to ask."
- Fox Sports' Charlotte Wilder: "The NBA developed rapid Covid tests and NBA players walked out of a game to try to get in touch with the attorney general of Wisconsin. Public health and social justice shouldn’t have to fall to athletes, but it’s amazing how they’ve stepped up when others haven’t."
- ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski: "The NBA, owners and front offices didn't see this wave of player boycotts coming today. Hours ago, they all expected to be playing these games tonight. This is a pivot point for the NBA and professional sports in North America."
- Author Howard Bryant: "After Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, the St. Louis Police union petitioned the NFL to have Rams players suspended for making a protest gesture entering the field. Six years later, players cancelled a slate of NBA playoff games to protest police brutality."
- The Ringer's Nora Princioti: "Always been a little squeamish about the degree to which we ask athletes to be our political/moral compass. I don't think it's fair, I think it's a byproduct of allowing other leaders to abdicate those roles. But damn they've gotten good at it."
- ESPN's Ian O'Connor: "Tripleheader playoff boycott tonight. The plague of Covid could not stop the NBA. The plague of racism did. An incredible moment in our sports history, created by some brave & righteous athletes. Smith & Carlos in Mexico City '68 times a hundred."
