NBA games set to resume amid the league’s decision to press pause following yesterday’s boycott.
The Milwaukee Bucks were the first to sit out of their game against the Orlando Magic last night (Aug. 26) following the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake. According to The Athletic, the meeting scheduled by the league went on for three hours before the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers ultimately voted to boycott all remaining games. Other teams, like the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies, voted to move forward with the season.
Lakers star LeBron James reportedly left the meeting. The NBA superstar took to Twitter to demand change.
FUCK THIS MAN!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 26, 2020
Players weren’t the only folks in the league using their platform to seek justice, former NBA player and analyst Kenny Smith provided some powerful words as he walked off the set of “Inside The NBA.”
“As a Black man and former player, I think it’s best for me to support the players and just not be here tonight.” Powerful words from Kenny Smith as he walks off the set of ‘Inside the NBA’ to stand in solidarity with the players :fist::skin-tone-5: pic.twitter.com/6aKzml3lu0
— aspireTV (@TVaspire) August 26, 2020
The NBA players started the most recent boycotts in the sports world, but other players quickly joined forces. Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka also made the decision to sit out of her upcoming semifinals match. In an Instagram post she wrote, “before I am an athlete, I am a black woman. And as a black woman, I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention.
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The WNBA also suspended games until further notice as the fight for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and now Jacob Blake (amongst many others) continues.
The boycotts come on the anniversary of Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem at NFL games. Do you think it will finally be effective in demanding change?
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