Report: NBA Players Considering Boycotting Games In Protest
Aug 26, 2020, 11:33 AM | Updated: 12:27 pm
Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder wears Black Lives Matter shirt (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – NBA players met Tuesday night to discuss the logistics of boycotting games after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot by a white police officer in Wisconsin. According to Yahoo Sports Chris Haynes, players met with the players association to discuss what potential boycotts might look like.
Several players, including Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Oklahoma City Thunder guard and players union president Chris Paul, and Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell have spoken about the shooting immediately following playoff games.
“The point of us coming down here was to create change,” Mitchell said. “And I feel like we’re doing a good job of that, but obviously not good enough.”
According to Haynes, “There is a sizable faction of players who are psychologically distraught” after seeing the video of Blake being shot by the police officer.
Yahoo Sources: Behind the scenes of the hurt, the guilt and the traumatization in the bubble as players and members of union met last night to discuss logistics of potentially boycotting games. https://t.co/CF7iCAWXC8
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 26, 2020
“As an African-American male, and I have my sister and my mom and my dad and my friends and family, when does it stop?” Mitchell asked. “When do we feel comfortable, when do we feel safe?”
Players Questioning Why League Returned
With the NBA playoffs in full swing, some players considering boycotting games are questioning why they traveled to the bubble to complete the season.
“We can’t do anything [in Orlando],” former Jazzman and current Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill said. “I think coming here just took all the focal points off what the issues are.”
Tuesday night, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers issued an emotional plea for equal protection.
“It’s amazing to me why we keep loving this country and this country does not love us back.”
Doc Rivers delivers an emotional message on the police shooting of Jacob Blake. pic.twitter.com/A0T26OfsDG
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 26, 2020
“It’s amazing why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back,” Rivers said. “It’s really so sad. Like, I should just be a coach. I’m so often reminded of my color. It’s just really sad. We got to do better. But we got to demand better.
Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson said the team hasn’t discussed boycotting games, but would support those who do.
“I know we haven’t spoken about it in terms of our team or met or anything,” Clarkson said. “But we definitely support them, and we’ve got their back, no matter what.”
