Barack Obama spoke to LeBron James, others about the boycotts

Former President Barack Obama commended the Milwaukee Bucks for their decision to organize a strike in response to the Jacob Blake shooting earlier this week.

It seems he too played a part in the players’ decision to return to the pitch days later.

Obama spoke to LeBron James, Chris Paul and a small group of players late Wednesday night and advised them to return to the pitch to finish the postseason, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

James and Paul, who is the president of the players’ association, wanted to ask Obama’s advice on how to move forward after a controversial and exciting players-only match Wednesday night – a match that James, the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers would follow for. not wanting to completely end the season.

Moving forward with the rest of the season, Obama would tell them, was an important opportunity they could use to contextualize the action they wanted to see taken in the country.

Obama tweeted his support for the strikes Wednesday and included an emotional interview from Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers about the shooting and being black in America.

Rivers has been among the most outspoken coaches on the matter over the past week and reportedly gave a passionate speech to the players at Wednesday night’s meeting urging them to register to vote. He believes only about 20% of players are actually registered voters and wants that number to reach at least 80%, according to Charania.

The Milwaukee Bucks were the first team to organize the strike on Wednesday afternoon in response to Blake’s shooting on Sunday. Kenosha, Wisconsin, police shot Blake, a 29-year-old black man, multiple times in the back as he tried to get into his car, which left him paralyzed from the waist down and sparked widespread condemnation and protest.

NBA and NBPA announced Friday that the postseason will resume on Saturday, and that several specific social initiatives would be implemented. NBA owners have agreed to work with local election officials so that each arena can be used as a polling place for November’s elections. The Bucks’ conversation with Wisconsin’s Attorney General and Lt. Governor resulted in the call for a vote on a police reform bill in the state, too. " data-reactid="31">The NBA and NBPA announced on Friday that post-season will resume on Saturday and several specific social initiatives will be implemented. NBA owners have agreed to partner with local election officials so that each arena can be used as a polling station for the November election. The Bucks’ conversation with the Wisconsin Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor also led to a call for a vote on a police reform bill in the state.

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