LA Clippers manager Doc Rivers dumped his frustration and raw emotion over Jacob Blake’s shooting and the current racial situation in the country on Tuesday.
Before his team’s 154-111 win in Game 5 over the Dallas Mavericks, Rivers was asked about the Sunday shooting of Blake, a black man, presumably by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rivers said he would discuss the matter after the game. After the Clippers’ 3-2 win in the series, Rivers was thrilled.
“All you hear is Donald Trump and they all talk about fear,” Rivers said of the Republican National Convention as he removed his protective mask to make sure he was heard clearly during the videoconference. “We are the ones who are killed. We are the ones who are killed. We are the ones who are denied living in certain communities. We have been hanged. We have been shot. And all you do is keep hearing about fear.”
Rivers’s eyes then began to gush as he paused to battle his emotions. His trademark hoarse voice cracked even more at times during the more than three-minute response. Rivers discussed what it feels like for a black man to be constantly reminded of his color due to shootings like the one involving Blake.
“It’s amazing why we continue to love this country, and this country doesn’t love us back,” Rivers said. “It’s really that sad. Like, I’m supposed to be just a coach. My color often comes to mind. It’s just very sad. We have to do better. But we have to ask for more.
“It’s funny. We protest. They send riot guards. They send people in riot gear. They go up to Michigan with guns. They spit on the police. Nothing happens.”
“Training needs to change in the police force,” Rivers continued. “Unions must be shot down in the police force. My father was a policeman. I believe in good cops. We are not trying to defund the police and take away all their money. We are trying to have them protect us, just like they protect everyone else. “.
Rivers wasn’t the only one frustrated in the NBA bubble on Tuesday.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell had strong words after Utah’s 117-107 defeat to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5, saying Blake would be shot seven times by Wisconsin police was “inexcusable” and “disgusting”.
“A lot of times we say we don’t feel safe, no matter how much money, no matter who you are,” Mitchell said. “The common excuse is, ‘He shouldn’t have left; he shouldn’t have not listened to the cops.’ He doesn’t deserve to be hit in the back, seven times, that’s unforgivable. The reason we came here was to create a change and I feel we’re doing a good job, but not good enough. Obviously it won’t happen overnight, but it’s disgusting “.
“I don’t really know how to describe him as an African American male,” Mitchell added. “When does it stop? When do we feel comfortable? When do we feel safe? … I just want this shit to stop, to be completely honest with you.”
Blake was allegedly shot by the police while trying to enter the driver’s door of his vehicle. The officers were responding to a domestic disturbance. Blake’s father, also called Jacob Blake, said on Tuesday his son was shot seven times. Blake’s attorney, Ben Crump, said his client is paralyzed and “it would take a miracle” to walk again.
The video of the shooting, taken from a window across the street, was distributed on social media and shared by Crump. The shooting sparked new protests months after George Floyd’s death when a Minneapolis policeman knelt on the neck for nearly eight minutes.
And it sparked anger and frustration on the NBA campus in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Hours before the Nuggets prevented playoff elimination with their Game 5 victory over the Jazz, frustrated Denver manager Michael Malone and his players gave an informal speech before their morning pass to discuss Blake.
Wearing a Black Lives Matter tee, Malone vented that players and coaches can’t influence the change as much as they would like from within the confines of the NBA bubble.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t think there is anything we can do here that will stop what is happening in this country, with the latest example being Kenosha,” Malone said. “… Being here, we are isolated and cannot help where perhaps we need to help. It is frustrating for many players, many coaches, to be here.
“But I don’t think anyone thought that going down the bubble and putting on a shirt and talking and painting something on the pitch would put an end to things across the country. This has been happening for hundreds of years.”
The Nuggets were one of the most vocal teams in speaking out against racial injustice while inside the bubble. Striker Jerami Grant was the first player to answer every question during his entire video conference session talking about Breonna Taylor’s death.
Rivers and Dallas coach Rick Carlisle has been talking at length about how creepy it was to watch the video of Blake being shot.
“That video, if you watch that video, you don’t have to be black to be outraged,” Rivers said. “You must be American and indignant. How dare Republicans talk about fear. We are the ones who must be scared. We are the ones who must speak to every black child. What white father has to give his son a talk to be careful if you get stopped?
“It’s just ridiculous. Go on. There are no charges. Breonna Taylor, no charges, nothing. We just ask you to live up to the Constitution. That’s all we ask for everyone, for everyone.”
Rivers’ post-match interview was seen by legendary Boston Celtics center Bill Russell, who he tweeted his gratitude to Rivers “for your words of wisdom and to keep this in the foreground. Proud to see the men in the bubble use their voices to try to effect real change!”
Clippers guard Paul George said he didn’t see the Blake shooting video until moments after Game 5 against the Mavericks.
“It’s sad,” said George. “Another one. This is America. Unless people decide to do the right thing. This is America. We have to stand by everyone. We need our allies to be with us. This is what we are. It’s happening. This is what’s happening. It’s still happening. Even after what happened with George Floyd. It’s inside them. There are some cowardly cops out there. It’s the system. We have to change it.
“I ask all my brothers and sisters out there to continue this fight while we are here; we will continue the fight while we are here. Everyone must unite.”
Clippers guard Lou Williams, who had reservations about the basketball season’s resumption because he didn’t want games to distract from the momentum and protests going on across the country after Floyd’s death, gave an answer on Tuesday after the Clippers’ victory. and that was about Blake’s shooting.
“It’s a shame we’re in this bubble and we’re still dealing with these problems,” Williams said. “… We are still seeing unarmed black men being killed on the streets. It’s just ridiculous at this point. And I think it’s hard to be here when things like that happen. You feel helpless in a way. You can do it. your voice in a way, but I think our presence is much more felt.
“To all our brothers out there in the streets protesting these things, fighting for prison reform legislation and those things, I think that’s very important. It’s just sad. Outside of our shirts, we’re black men, and so it’s scary for a meeting with police officers right now. It’s a shame. That’s all I have to say tonight. “
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