NBA players have been using their media time in the Orlando bubble to call attention to issues that are important to them, and that has only gotten more intense over the past week. Wednesday’s wildcat strike to protest systemic racism and police brutality after the police shooting of Jacob Blake made a huge impact, and the players are continuing to follow through on their promise to highlight vital and urgent issues." data-reactid="16">NBA players have used their media time in the Orlando bubble to call attention to issues that matter to them, and this has gotten more intense over the past week. Wednesday’s wild strike to protest systemic racism and police brutality after police shot Jacob Blake had a huge impact, and players continue to deliver on their pledge to highlight vital and urgent issues.
Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets used his media time Saturday to call attention to Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT who was shot by police while sleeping in her bed, and George Floyd, whose murder at the hands of Minneapolis sparked national protests in late May. Murray wanted to point out the injustice of Taylor and Floyd’s death on Saturday.
She put her custom Breonna Taylor and George Floyd shoes on the chair and left them there for nearly two minutes before answering questions.
Jamal Murray began his media availability today by placing his custom shoes on the stool for the first two minutes or so. They just sat there, alone, in silence, in the frame.
Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. pic.twitter.com/FQl37jqkGv
– Katy Winge (@katywinge) 29 August 2020
Murray later explained why he decided to do it.
Jamal explained to the media his intent behind the shoes sitting there for two minutes.
“A person in those shoes had one knee on his neck for 8.” https://t.co/EHdKpzc8Ju
– Katy Winge (@katywinge) 29 August 2020
Jaylen Brown talks about Jacob Blake
Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics has chosen to talk about the Jacob Blake shooting and the “criminalization of blacks” in the United States. Blake was shot in the back by police seven times after attempting to stop a fight, and is now paralyzed from the waist down.
The Celtics look to Jaylen Brown, who is also a vice president of the NBA’s players union, with a perspective on dating and his frustration with “the criminalization of blacks.” pic.twitter.com/ohkQBHqbrM
– Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) 29 August 2020
“It seems to me that there is an interest in the criminalization of blacks in this country. Jacob Blake has been shot in the back seven times and is handcuffed to a bed right now, as a reminder. It’s a reminder to the nurses, it’s a reminder to her family, to the staff, as if being paralyzed wasn’t enough. It doesn’t make sense, to be honest. “
