The Milwaukee Bucks have boycotted Game 5 on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The NBA announced shortly after that all of Wednesday’s playoff games — including Game 5 between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder and Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers — have been postponed.
Lakers superstar LeBron James was among the first NBA players to react to the boycott on social media, tweeting: “F— THIS MAN!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT.”
Players and teams across the basketball and sports worlds are joining the overwhelming show of support for the Bucks’ decision to protest.
NBA players react to the Bucks boycotting Game 5. pic.twitter.com/3FW2WytsU6
— ESPN (@espn) August 26, 2020
Players around the league showed support after the Bucks boycotted Game 5. pic.twitter.com/Ak588zSbL1
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 26, 2020
I swear its not that hard to understand that WE as human beings just want to be treated equal … and if u don’t understand that then im sorry for your ignorance …
— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) August 26, 2020
We need CHANGE!
Change can NOT wait!
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) August 26, 2020
WE DEMAND CHANGE!
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) August 26, 2020
We Demand Change. We so sick of this!!!
— Robert Covington (@Holla_At_Rob33) August 26, 2020
Proud to be apart of this League… even more today ! WE WANT CHANGE🖤🖤
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 26, 2020
Proud of our players! @Nba
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 26, 2020
Just in case you forgot‼️#BiggerThanBasketball pic.twitter.com/NX4CcD9v1E
— John Wall (@JohnWall) August 26, 2020
I stand in solidarity with the players of the @NBA and all of those protesting social injustice. #BlackLivesMatter
— Alex English (@AlexEnglish_2) August 26, 2020
Powerful Statement ✊🏾🙏🏾 @Bucks
— JJJ (@jarenjacksonjr) August 26, 2020
✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 @Bucks #JusticeForJacobBlake
— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes) August 26, 2020
Alex Lasry, Senior Vice President of the Bucks and son of owner Marc Lasry, echoed his team’s message. “I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change.” Lasry’s tweet reads.
Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and org shows that we’re fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change
— Alex Lasry (@AlexanderLasry) August 26, 2020
Jeanie Buss, CEO of the Lakers, who would have attempted to close out the Trail Blazers Wednesday night in their opening-round series, said “I stand behind our players, today and always.”
I was excited to see us play – and hopefully close out our series – tonight. But I stand behind our players, today and always. After more than 400 years of cruelty, racism and injustice, we all need to work together to say enough is enough. #JusticeForJacobBlake #WeHearYou
— Jeanie Buss (@JeanieBuss) August 26, 2020
The National Basketball Players Association, along with multiple NBA teams, used their platforms to push for justice for Jacob Blake and support Black Lives Matter.
We stand with our players. #JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/yEPQ3cA4gC
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 26, 2020
#BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/Yn1vF0G6en
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) August 26, 2020
#JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/OhToTWSk9O
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 26, 2020
A historic statement for justice. Respect, @bucks.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/cTZSoQIvy6
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) August 26, 2020
NFL and NHL stars joined in supporting the Bucks and the NBA.
Major statement by the NBA players 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽 I’m with it!
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) August 26, 2020
FED UP. Ain’t enough money in world to keep overlooking true issues that effect the mind body & soul of what we do. We cannot be happy for self when our communities are suffering & innocent folk are dying.. since George Floyd, there have been at least 20 other police shootings. https://t.co/UmzuuWP7us
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) August 26, 2020
Those who have been doing the work understand that it’s about the system in place. Yes, we want justice in these cases but we also need systemic change.
— Kenny Stills (@KSTiLLS) August 26, 2020