Mike Ehrmann / Associated Press
The top two teams in the Western Conference reportedly voted to stay out for the remainder of the NBA season following Jacob Blake’s police shooting.
Second Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers voted not to play. Charania he also noted that every other team voted to continue with the playoffs in the bubble at Walt Disney World Resort, while LeBron James called for more action from the league owners.
Charania he also described the scene where Udonis Haslem spoke and asked how the season could continue without the Lakers and Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard and James were adamant that the season would not be resumed, however Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
The Athletic’s David Aldridge gave more details:
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski also reported on what happened, noting “The Clippers and Lakers vote on perhaps not continuing with the season was seen as more of a poll than a final vote, sources told ESPN. The resumption of the playoffs is still pending “before providing more details:
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Discussions about the continuation of the season will extend into tomorrow, sources tell ESPN, but it seems unlikely that Thursday’s three playoff games will be played. “Everyone is still too emotional,” a senior source tells ESPN. “There must be more time to get together on this.”
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
ESPN Sources: Among the topics in the meeting: NBPA explained the financial implications of the end of the season, including the possible lockdown next year. Chris Paul exiting the unified meeting; CJ McCollum on the need for an action plan. Doc Rivers on the use of the platform, voting, police accountability.
ESPN’s Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews noted that the players have another meeting scheduled for the morning to continue the discussion on how to proceed with the postseason. Wojnarowski he added that the meeting will be held at the same time as the NBA Board of Governors convening at 11.
James has been a vocal leader for the NBA and the sports world at large on a number of social justice topics, including responding to Blake’s police shooting:
“And you all wonder why we say what we say about the police !!” James tweeted. “Someone please tell me what this is ??? !!! Exactly another black man being targeted. This is so wrong and so sad !! I’m so sorry for him, his family and OURS PEOPLE !! We want JUSTICE “
On the side of the Clippers, manager Doc Rivers opened during an exciting press conference following his team’s victory on Tuesday:
Rachel Nichols @Rachel__Nichols
Doc Rivers with pure emotion and a lightning scream for justice: “All you hear is Donald Trump and they all talk about fear. We are the ones who are killed. We are the ones who are killed … It’s amazing, we keep loving this country, and this country does not reciprocate us “. https://t.co/19dHu9UlZ5
“Watching the Republican convention, and they throw up this fear. All you hear is Donald Trump and they all talk about fear. We are the ones who are killed. We are the ones who are killed. We are the ones denied living in certain communities. We have been hanged. We are. been shot.
“All you do is keep hearing about fear. It’s amazing to me why we continue to love this country, and this country doesn’t love us back. It’s really so sad. As if I were just a coach, and it is. often remembered my color You know? It’s just very sad We have to do better.
“But we have to ask for more. You know, it’s funny. We protest, and they send riot guards, right? They send people in riot gear. They go up to Michigan with guns and spit on the cops. And nothing happens. The formation has to change in forces. Unions must be shot down in the police force. My father was a cop. I believe in good cops. We are not trying to defund the police and take all their money away. We are trying to get them to protect us. Just like they protect everyone. the others.
“I didn’t want to talk about it before the game because it’s so hard. … If you watch that video, you don’t have to be black to be indignant. You have to be American and indignant. And how dare Republicans talk about fear? We are who they need to be. We are the ones who have to talk to every black child. Which white father has to talk to his son to be careful if you get stopped is just ridiculous.
“And keep going. There are no charges. Breonna Taylor … no charges. Nothing. All we ask of you is that you live up to the constitution. That’s all we ask. For everyone. For everyone.”
Wednesday night’s votes came in a big reunion in the NBA bubble after all three playoff games of the day were postponed. The Philadelphia InquirerKeith Pompey reported who the coaches were guest, is Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that the referees also joined.
Many of the league’s players joined the global protests following the killing of George Floyd before entering the bubble for the restart of the season. At the Walt Disney World Resort, they wore shirts with messages like “Black Lives Matter” as they knelt during the national anthem as a means of protesting police brutality and systemic racism.
However, Haynes reported that many players were “emotionally traumatized” by the police shooting of Blake and “not in a position to play basketball”.
