After holding a meeting Thursday morning, NBA players reported voted to resume the 2020 playoffs, by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. There is still a lot to discuss. Thursday’s game has been postponed, but the league intends to resume games on Friday or Saturday, according to NBA Executive Vice President Mike Bass:
“NBA playoff games for today are not being played as planned. We are hopeful to resume games on Friday and Saturday. There is a video conference meeting scheduled later this afternoon between a group of NBA players and team managers representing the 13 teams in Representing Orlando, along with representatives of the National Basketball Players Association and the League Bureau and NBA Labor Relations Committee Chairman Michael Jordan, to discuss next steps. “
The meeting Thursday morning came after the postponement of three playoff games on Wednesday, including the Bucks Magic game in which Milwaukee players organized a walk-out before the start of Game 5. The league’s Board of Governors was also expected to this had a call in the morning to tackle the walkouts of Wednesday night, in addition to what should follow.
Several leaders on the Lakers list, along with some players from other teams, presumably stayed up early in the morning to rush their problems into the bubble. As a result of those talks, all players were able to agree to celebrate the season again, by Wojnarowski.
During a meeting Wednesday night consisting of players and coaches, the Lakers and Clippers were among the minority of teams that were carrying to end the season, according to Sham Charania of The Athletic. LeBron James said at the meeting that he wants the team owners to be more involved and take action.
Milwaukee’s walk-out for Game 5 against the Magic came in response to the shooting of an unarmed Black man named Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. Shortly after the Bucks made a statement by not playing, the Rockets and Thunder decided not to play on Wednesday, as did the Lakers and Trail Blazers.
Bucks owners Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan have released the following joint statement:
“We fully support our players and the decision they have made. Although we did not know it beforehand, we would wholeheartedly agree with them. The only way to bring about change is to shed light on the racial institutions. “that happened to us. Our players have done that and we will stand by them and demand responsibility and change.”
News of the Bucks stepping out sent a ripple effect on sports in the United States. Here is a look at all the games posted as a sign of protest:
Many NBA players and coaches have spoken with heavy hearts since shooting Blake, and earlier Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors discussed the possibility of sitting out Game 1 of their second-round matchup against the Boston Celtics Thursday.
Coaches like Doc Rivers have made emotional statements in response to Blake’s shooting, unfortunately indicated, “we love this country and this country does not hold us back.” Raptors guard Fred VanVleet told media on Tuesday that in order to bring about change, players would have to “put something in place to lose, instead of just money or visibility.” By sitting games, that certainly makes a statement that the players are sick and tired of nothing changing regarding police brutality against Black people in this country.
Follow below as we keep you informed of what is happening with the current situation.
