After a month of uninterrupted basketball, the NBA playoffs came to a complete halt on Wednesday, and it was not because of the coronavirus.
Just moments before the Milwaukee Bucks took the Orlando Magic on Monday for a potential elimination game, the Bucks players decided to sit out the game as a way to protest against racial inequality and police brutality in the United States. Shortly thereafter, the four other teams that were scheduled to play – the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder – also chose not to play.
While the initial reaction of the players led many to believe that the NBA playoffs might be canceled, it seems at this point that the playoffs are starting again. However, before the players reached that conclusion, they had a few meetings, the first of which ended with James running.
James was also a focal point in the second meeting, but with a night to sleep on things, he was able to end the meeting with a message that resonated with players, according to Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report.
Sources say Lebron James was the last player to speak about the call and he delivered a strong, thoughtful message to the owners. His main point was that the work should continue, and the owners should really commit themselves to promoting this cause.
– Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 27, 2020
Rooks gave more details about NBA TV:
“LeBron James was the last voice on that call, which is really important, because that’s what he’s claiming: this only works if we’re all in this together, this only works if we’re really thinking here – on a human level – when we do not play basketball. This only works if we believe in it. And players are starting to feel that owners see that more than before. “
After that meeting, it is believed that James is among the players who want to resume the playoffs, but on the condition that the positions were taken on Wednesday, was not in vain.
It’s clear that these players want to see their organizations become more involved, whether it’s by converting their empty arenas into polling stations, or contribute to causes that the players believe in. The players just want to see change, and they deserve it. Now it looks like they’ll get some of that too.
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