Ultimately, the Raptors and the rest of the league decided their message for social justice would be better served by utilizing the NBA’s stage. “…It got to this point where the play stopped and guys were saying, ‘I didn’t want to come in the first place, stuff they didn’t express to [the media] before and just kind of getting through all that,” Nurse said after the Raptors practised Saturday.
More on Players Boycott
Anthony Chiang: Andre Iguodala on players meetings: "Whether we agree on one topic or not, we still support one another. Whatever the majority decides, do the best that we can to put the players and our league in a position to shine brightest on and off the court."
Nick Nurse: “In all reality, I mean, we only really request their attention for a couple hours a day, and the rest of the day they can do whatever they want and then they get a chance to earn a living and support their family on top of that and they have a platform to do that with, so that’s one of the basis of a lot of the conversations were.”
“If you told me tomorrow that by shutting down the season, we could end police brutality, shut it down. If you told me tomorrow we could end racism by shutting down the season, shut it down,” said a Western Conference executive whose team isn’t in the bubble. “This s--- ain’t going to stop because y’all said, ‘We ain’t going to play ball!’ The problem is, you shut down the season, nothing is going to change immediately. You’re going to make some noise and then, guess what? You become irrelevant because you don’t have a platform after that.”
It has fallen on them because they are in a position to have their voices amplified. They have been handed the stage by the league to make of it what they will. But the fact remains that most are just twenty-somethings trying to figure out how to navigate life under intense scrutiny. Rivers said this week he “should just be a coach,” but Black coaches and players can’t just stick to sports if they tried. “Is it fair? Absolutely not. Are they up for the job? Absolutely,” said Carl Suddler, an Emory University assistant professor in history and African American historian. “These players, like most black folks in the United States, have always lived lives that are responsible to more than just themselves. Black folks in this country have always thought of themselves as part of a larger community. Unfortunately, we don’t get to think of ourselves individually and think of work as simply something we are. Work becomes a representation of who we are. That in and of itself is unfair. Because that type of obligation, that type of pressure isn’t put on different communities to the same effect.”
Patrick Beverley admits there were disagreements during an emotional players meeting Wednesday, but the LA Clippers ultimately wanted to "stay united" with every NBA team and resume the playoffs. "I think collectively as a team, we just wanted to stay united with every other team here in the bubble," Beverley said of what changed for the Clippers from Wednesday to Thursday. "And of course the dialogue that we had was between players -- players only -- but whatever dialogue that was, it came out to be positive.
For hours on Wednesday, players demanded action. But what? And from whom? The Bucks got a spotty cell phone call from Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. They wanted information on how Kaul would proceed with prosecution of the officer who shot Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old black man who was shot seven times by a Kenosha, Wis., police officer on Sunday. Kaul proceeded to politically weaponize the conversation, blaming a pair of state legislators for not doing enough. Players spoke of the need to do more for voting rights and police reform, though to several people in the room it was unclear how.
On Thursday, after the players agreed to continue playing this postseason, James was among the players in the room for a call with the 13 team governors with franchises inside the bubble, league office personnel, NBPA members and Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan, who serves as the labor relations committee chairman. He spoke for around five minutes to the room and pushed for complete follow-up to social justice items after the season ended, that the action topics did not die with the season, according to multiple direct sources on the call. James added he wanted to see the league and owners help build up poor communities, and that most people where he grew up couldn’t afford to pay for television cable to watch his games. One person who was on the call told The Athletic that they were impressed by what James had to say and that he made “very valid points.”
Chris Bosh: My brothers and sisters in the NBA and WNBA aren’t striking because any of this is new. They’re striking because it isn’t. When I was eight years old, I loved to watch cartoons, but on a night I’ll never forget, my television showed something else: Four officers from the Los Angeles Police Department taking more than fifty swings with their batons at a man named Rodney King. I couldn’t understand everything I was seeing, but I knew it wasn’t right—and I had a question on my mind I could not get past: Why? Why would they do that to another human being?
Chris Bosh: These kids had to witness that. I couldn’t even watch the video—and I’m an adult, a seven-foot former professional basketball player at that. Because if you’re Black in America, images like these have the power to bring you to your knees in sorrow, no matter how tall you stand. That is why I’m so proud of my fellow basketball players in the bubble: Because in a country providing them with so many reasons to be resigned—in a country where regardless of how much money you make or how famous you become, some people will still define you by your race, as Sterling Brown and Masai Ujiri have seen first hand—they refused to be defeated.
After walking out of Wednesday’s players meeting in support of sitting out NBA’s games, LeBron James led a small group of players who turned to perhaps America’s biggest basketball fan for advice. Former President Barack Obama spoke to James, National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul and a small group of players late Wednesday evening, advising them to play and utilize the opportunity to contextualize action they want in order to play, The Athletic has learned.
The call took place following a contentious players meeting on Wednesday night in which Lakers and Clippers players voted to boycott the remainder of the season. After lengthy dialogue into Thursday morning, both franchise’s players had agreed to pursue a restart to the postseason should the players union and NBA work toward increased social justice measures.
– Several players expressed frustration toward Bucks players about being blindsided about their walk-out on Wednesday night. When asked to explain themselves, Bucks veteran Kyle Korver spoke up and said that he wanted to play, but the team supported each other in their decision to walk out and forfeit the game. Bucks players had intended to simply forfeit and award Orlando with a win, make the series 3-2, and move on, sources said. Instead, this led to a league-wide walk out. Bucks guard George Hill admitted in Wednesday’s meeting that he sparked the conversation in the team’s pregame locker room about sitting, and teammates, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, supported Hill.
On Thursday, after the players agreed to continue playing this postseason, James was among the players in the room for a call with the 13 team governors with franchises inside the Bubble, league office, NBPA and Hornets’ Michael Jordan, who serves as the labor relations committee chairman. He spoke for around five minutes and pushed for complete follow-up after the season ended, that the action topics did not die with the season, according to multiple direct sources on the call. James added he wanted to see the league and owners help build up poor communities, and that most people where he grew up couldn’t afford to pay for television cable to watch his games. One person who was on the call told The Athletic that they were impressed by what James had to say and made “very valid points.”
Tim Bontemps: The NBA and NBPA have put out the following joint statement about play resuming Saturday, along with initiatives the players and league will work on together: pic.twitter.com/2Y2e9eFEfd
Taylor Rooks: Spoke to some players who say that Pat Bev and Michele Roberts did have a ‘moment’ - but they spoke to each other yesterday morning and it has been completely resolved.
Tim Reynolds: Bucks, Raptors, Heat have all canceled media sessions for today. "As we return to the court today, our team focus will be on our overall performance and well-being," the Bucks said.
ESPN Cleveland: Cavs Coach @jbbickerstaff_ on NBA Boycott "I was proud of those guys for standing up for what they believe in."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: For me, what really brought the hearth fire of hope back to life was the instantaneous support of other sports teams and athletes. Major League Soccer, in which only 26% of players are black, postponed five games that day, with players from two teams, Inter Miami and Atlanta United, locking arms and refusing to play. Major League Baseball, with only about 8% African American players, also joined in with players from the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds sitting out their games and the Seattle Mariners voted unanimously to postpone their Wednesday game. More baseball teams joined the boycott on Thursday. In tennis, perhaps the whitest of all the sports, former US Open champion Naomi Osaka walked away from her semi-final match at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, tweeting, “I don’t expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing, but if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport I consider that a step in the right direction.” Professional tennis organizations USTA, ATP, and WTA issued a statement in support of her stance and postponed tournament play on Thursday. I have never been prouder of my athlete colleagues.
LeBron James was one of the many players miffed with the Bucks’ handling of the situation as well, sources said. To him and so many others, it put them in a no-win situation. His frustration with Hill and the Bucks was because the players didn’t have a plan of action that would warrant players returning to play, sources said. James’ mindset, sources said, was if they’re refusing to play, then what’s the end game and what demands must be met to continue?
With emotions all over the place, Haslem pressed James and asked the star what he planned to do, reminding him that he’s the face of the league and it goes as he goes, sources said. James then said, “We’re out,” and walked out with almost all of his teammates following behind, sources said, with Dwight Howard being the only Laker who remained.
On the call, James was stern in calling on owners to do more in aiding the Black community and to play more of a role in using their resources to combat systemic racism, sources said. James had already told players he was in, but depending on how the meeting went with owners, he would have reversed course if things went sideways, sources said. After the meeting, James felt comfortable with returning to the court, sources said. Owners promised that they would get to work on real action items that would benefit the Black community, sources said.
Roberts asked politely if she could continue with her point, and Beverley responded, “No, I pay your salary,” sources said. This caused an uproar with Paul, Haslem and others, who intervened and told Beverley that disrespect would not be tolerated, sources said.
LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers said his players are ready to continue the NBA postseason after "they thought it was over" following Wednesday's emotional players' meeting. "Oh, they want to," Rivers said when asked if his team is ready to move forward during an interview Thursday on Fox Prime Ticket. "They are really looking forward to it. Yesterday was a very difficult day though. Like their emotions were all over the place. "They thought it was over. It was just a really tough day for all of them."
Marc J. Spears: The @nbpa and @nba could be putting out a joint statement tonight following the conference call between the union and owners. They could be announcing a direct action plan that includes a push for police accountability, voting registration and support for the George Floyd Bill.
Taylor Rooks: Sources say Lebron James was the last player to speak on the call and he delivered a strong, thoughtful message to the owners. His main point was that the work has to continue, and the owners have to truly dedicate to advancing this cause.
Shams Charania: Sources: In NBA players/owners meeting: Players challenged owners to be proactive, not reactive, to social justice changes; create actions, not simply financial commitments. And: NBA/NBPA will create a new program to work on player-created initiatives on daily basis.
Ohm Youngmisuk: Doc Rivers on Fox Prime Ticket: “You forget that being in the bubble is hard... Listening to these guys speak, just mental awareness, we got to be a little sharper on that. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that everyone in this bubble just seems to be a little more emotional.”
Steve Ballmer: I am again angry over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Doc Rivers and the Bucks players said it well: We need real police accountability. Give citizens data to do so. Let's have criminal justice reform that keeps all people safe, but not senselessly imprisoned or afraid. Now is the time to research and vote for the mayors, council people, commissioners, legislators, governors, judges, prosecutors, and attorneys general who can make it happen. Now is the time to work out bipartisan national police reform.
Later Wednesday evening at 8:00, several of the league’s top NBPA player representatives, including Chris Paul and Andre Iguodala, spoke. Bucks forward Kyle Korver, Clippers players Patrick Beverley and Kawhi Leonard, and coaches Doc Rivers, Armond Hill, and John Lucas, Portland’s CJ McCollum and many others spoke. According to one source who was in the meeting, the major themes included voting, police brutality, and more direct action with owners. Another source said more open discussion got done once coaches left the players’ meeting. For reference, Rivers has spoken about players remaining in the bubble and using their platform to continue speaking on the issue of racism in the country.
There was a sense some players didn’t want to speak up around coaches, according to some in the meeting. Some players wanted to learn what the financial ramifications would be if the season was canceled. Players, including Boston’s Jaylen Brown, stressed the fight for justice is not over once the season concludes. Brown was also among the players who didn’t mind what the Bucks did. Other players would have preferred more transparency and a heads up for more of a united front. Looking ahead, players also emphasized figuring out a way to present that desired united front once they leave the bubble.
Despite strong feelings and tensions from players over racism in the country, one high-profile agent believed there was always a path to finishing the season if a sticking point is resolved. “Hopefully, there will be an appeasement if there is communication with the owners and the players to work together to get in front of politicians,” the agent told HoopsHype looking ahead. Another agent with multiple players remaining in the bubble who spoke to his players about the current situation said, “They seem like they want to continue playing.”
Taylor Rooks: The joint call with the owners just concluded. Sources say players had a list of important things. Players want organizational changes - including dedicated coalition w/ Full time job to manage the issues. Voting, police reform, etc. Wanting to be proactive instead of reactive.
Michael Singer: Like the rest of the NBA, Nuggets players are taking today to meet/discuss/ process everything that's happened. Obviously, no official team activities today, and they're awaiting word on when they'll play next. There's a chance they practice tomorrow, and we'll hear from players.
Nike Inc. on Thursday released a statement in support of the NBA and WNBA players who went on strike Wednesday in protest of the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by police in Wisconsin. Nike's endorsers include numerous NBA and WNBA athletes. The company's statement, in full: Nike stands in support of NBA and WNBA players and athletes across the sports community in their response to the senseless shooting of Jacob Blake. We remain committed to addressing the issue of systemic racism experience by the Black community.
When LeBron James and other players from the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers left the meeting room Wednesday night with the intention of not continuing to play in the bubble, José Juan Barea thought that the NBA season had just reached its end without completing the playoffs. “Yes, absolutely. When we went out like this, everyone thought we were going to go back to our homes”, admitted the veteran Dallas Mavericks point guard to El Nuevo Día in reference to the decisions of both teams to boycott the postseason.
In the afternoon, Barea said that they will decide when the postseason action will resume. “We are going to talk about the actions we will take to play again, and also to talk with the owners to help open the arenas for the elections (in November) to make the voting process easier. And also so that they speak with the chiefs of police in their states. The owners are very powerful people and they can make many things happen faster ”.
Taylor Rooks: Been told that Dwyane Wade has been actively involved and connected in the conversations/calls here in Orlando. Players actively seeking a variety of voices from inside and outside the bubble.
Magic Johnson: I fully support the actions of NBA, WNBA, MLB, and MLS players and leagues to cancel the games in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black American, at the hands of those who pledge to protect and serve ALL Americans.
A recognizable figure has emerged as a go-between the NBA players and the owners: Michael Jordan. Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Hornets -- and the only Black majority owner in the league -- reached out to National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul, league sources told ESPN, in advance of the owners meeting to get a better understanding of what the players hoped to achieve going forward and to offer assistance as they make their case to the NBA's board of governors. Jordan also spoke with Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook about issues of social justice that initially left some stars advocating for the cancellation of the season.
The owners held a virtual meeting on Thursday morning and, it has been confirmed by two participants, Jordan was a voice of reason, urging the other owners to allow the players to express their frustrations and concerns before offering any of their own solutions. "Right now, listening is better than talking," Jordan told the group, according to sources.
Many of the owners, including Jordan, sources said, favored continuing the season, believing that the games were still the best and most visible platform for social change. The owners will meet again later Thursday to discuss specific ways in which they can help the players meet their goals while continuing to compete for an NBA title, as well as to discuss the scheduling of the resumption of play in the bubble.
Barack Obama: I commend the players on the @Bucks for standing up for what they believe in, coaches like @DocRivers, and the @NBA and @WNBA for setting an example. It’s going to take all our institutions to stand up for our values.
In interviews today, Jared Kushner, a White House senior adviser and the president's son-in-law, discounted the player strikes. "Look, I think that the NBA players are very fortunate that they have the financial position where they're able to take a night off from work without having to have the consequences to themselves financially," White House senior adviser Jared Kushner told CNBC. "So they have that luxury, which is great."
Davide Chinellato: President Donald Trump: "The #NBA has become like a political organization, and that’s not a good thing. I don’t think that’s a good thing for sports or for the country"
Alykhan Bijani: Tilman Fertitta: “It’s a different generation. If you’re not a flexible person and you don’t see other people’s views, you’re not going to do well in this world today. And so I respect them. I stand by them. They’re my partners.” #Rockets #NBA pic.twitter.com/x3nZ4c4ndt
Sopan Deb: Tilman Fertitta on the player stoppage: "I think they just needed a pause. They've been playing every other day. These are our partners, okay? We’re 50/50 partners. And if we do well, they do well. And if the league doesn't do well, none of us do well. And they realize that." pic.twitter.com/u1pGxBClfC
Alykhan Bijani: Tilman Fertitta says he disagrees with President Trump calling the NBA a political organization. “I think the #Rockets are a political organization...I think that is not a good statement. I don’t know why he made that statement. It’s disappointing.” pic.twitter.com/0zrMeVNjN3
Shams Charania: NBA statement on hopeful Postseason return on Friday or Saturday. pic.twitter.com/Qn0fcC7KHa
Keith Pompey: The #NBA games will resume on Saturday, according to source.
To help explain what happened and what might come next, GQ called up Len Elmore, a former NBA player with a background in law who now teaches at Columbia University on subjects including athlete activism and social justice in sports.
Even within these strange, sad times we’re living in, yesterday’s decision feels like it will echo for years to come. Just how historic was it? Len Elmore: From the standpoint of a unified position by a team, across leagues, it’s right up there with the assassinations of Dr. King and, before that even, JFK. How can you conduct sport when there’s so many larger, more significant things at hand? However, what makes this unprecedented is the fact that there’s a reason, a basis behind this. This is a protest of systemic racism catalyzed by another shooting of an unarmed Black man. We’ve never seen that. And it wasn’t spurred on by any kind of national power. This was done by the individual players, predominantly Black players, who are standing up and using their platform to make a statement. And the question is, will you sustain the impact or is this just a one-off thing that comes and goes?
Len Elmore: We have a country in upheaval. We have a situation where there are so many people in mourning—not the officials but those who participate, and it’s them who made this decision. That’s what makes this unprecedented.
Last night the league tweeted that the three playoff games have been “postponed” and will be rescheduled. Can you explain why they did this? Len Elmore: At this stage, they think that it bodes well to sympathize. Let’s see how long that lasts. The longer the players decide they’re not gonna play, the more you have an impact on the league and the owners, on their pocketbook and their profitability. If this thing lasts a week, two weeks, then it becomes a different story. This league right now is trying to maintain good will between those who are essentially adversarial, the union and management. But the longer they stay out, the more that good will dissipates.
If this were a one- or two-game boycott by the players and then they returned to action, how do you think this would be remembered? Len Elmore: I think it would be remembered as symbolic, and from a collective bargaining position down the road, it would be a tell for the owners to realize that these guys can’t hold out. I think they’d use it down the road in their bargaining strategy.
NBA players voted to resume the playoffs in a meeting Thursday morning after walking out on Wednesday’s slate of games, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The agreement occurred at Disney’s Corona Springs Resort in a meeting that lasted a little less than an hour, sources said. It was the players’ second meeting in the last 15 hours.
Thursday’s scheduled playoff games will be postponed, sources said. In Wednesday night’s meeting, frustration mounted and tension grew among the players, who were irritated by a lack of strategic unity, sources said. The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers voted against resuming the playoffs last night and were the first two teams to exit the meeting, sources said.
LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard expressed a desire to return home, sources said, but in Thursday’s meeting, James related that it was in the best interest of the players to finish what they started. Anthony Davis was on board with whatever the players decided, sources said.
Mark Jackson: So Proud of ALL of the NBA Players!!!
Jeff Goodman: Source: LeBron James did not say one word during the meeting.
Shams Charania: Sources: NBA players -- and league -- are aiming to restart games Friday.
Jeff Goodman: There will be another meeting at 4 p.m. with two NBA players from each team to discuss the specific items that the players want to be addressed, source told @Stadium.
Tim MacMahon: Sources: There will be another meeting later today with two players per team.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The NBA's players have decided to resume the playoffs, source tells ESPN.
