NBA players 'demand justice' after Bucks boycott Game 5 vs. Magic

Sportsnet Staff @SportsnetAugust 26, 2020 - 8:24pm

The Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic were not on the floor for tip-off of their playoff game in a boycott to bring attention to the Jacob Blake shooting.

The Milwaukee Bucks led a number of teams in boycotting play Wednesday when they opted to sit out Game 5 of their best-of-seven series against the Orlando Magic in response to the Jacob Blake shooting.

Prior to the Bucks-Magic game, which was meant to begin at 4 p.m. ET, there had already been talk from members of the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics that boycotting play could become an option.

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet told reporters on Tuesday that he “was pretty excited and then we all had to watch Jacob Blake get shot yesterday. That changes the tone of things… It’s just starting to feel like everything we’re doing is just going through the motions, nothing’s changing.”

Here are some of the reactions to the boycott across social media from other NBA players, personalities, and athletes.

NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts on Player Protest and Postponement of Games pic.twitter.com/bjy6hpP9kU

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 27, 2020

Bucks guard George Hill says to @TheUndefeated his team is not playing against Orlando tonight in light of shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc. “We’re tired of the killings and the injustice,” Hill to @TheUndefeated.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 26, 2020

Respect @bucks!!!!

— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) August 26, 2020

WE DEMAND CHANGE! SALUTE @Bucks

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 26, 2020

WE DEMAND JUSTICE!!!

— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) August 26, 2020

Simple https://t.co/AHu4C16Fus

— Maurice Harkless (@moe_harkless) August 26, 2020

— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) August 26, 2020

#JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/OhToTWSk9O

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 26, 2020

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

Proud to be apart of this League… even more today ! WE WANT CHANGE

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 26, 2020

We Demand Change. We so sick of this!!!

— Robert Covington (@Holla_At_Rob33) August 26, 2020

We have the strongest, most unified league in the world!!! #change

— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) August 26, 2020

respect

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) August 26, 2020

Just in case you forgot#BiggerThanBasketball pic.twitter.com/NX4CcD9v1E

— John Wall (@JohnWall) August 26, 2020

STATEMENT FROM THE ORLANDO MAGIC AND THE DeVOS FAMILY pic.twitter.com/jRZJmo1mq4

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) August 26, 2020

The NBRA stands in solidarity with our players' decision to boycott tonight’s games in protest of the continued unjustified killing of black men and women by law enforcement. There are more important issues in our country than basketball and we hope this will inspire change.

— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) August 26, 2020

We stand with our players. #JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/yEPQ3cA4gC

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 26, 2020

WE DEMAND CHANGE!

— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) August 26, 2020

SALUTE @Bucks

— 13am Adebayo

Many times in the past we’ve seen teams say what they was about to do and ACTIONS speak LOUDER than WORDS!!!#Bucks #Magic
The legislature needs to meet and local govt should be rushing to implement accountability.

— Caron Butler (@realtuffjuice) August 26, 2020

Major statement by the NBA players I’m with it!

— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) August 26, 2020

WE DEMAND CHANGE! WE DEMAND JUSTICE!

— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) August 26, 2020

Proud of my brothers@Bucks @NBA #NecessaryGoodTrouble #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/sYOos4prW8

— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 26, 2020

Respect @Bucks

— Strombone (@strombone1) August 26, 2020

Respect to all the NBA players, teams and personnel.

— player/coach (@CMPunk) August 26, 2020

pic.twitter.com/4pzZTLR143

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 26, 2020

I’m moved by all the @NBA players for standing up for what is right. To my man @TheJetOnTNT I would like to say Thank you for what you did to show your support for the players. I am so proud of you. Keep getting in good trouble. @NBAonTNT @ESPNNBA @espn #NBAPlayoffs

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) August 26, 2020

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