Players and coaches across the NBA condemn both the storm of the American Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and the decision not to charge the police officer who shot Jacob Blake with protests before and even during several games.
A few players wanted to take things a step further.
After George’s victory over the Golden State Warriors, Paul George, star of the Los Angeles Clippers, said he would be looking to close the NBA:
Paul George: “I would have liked everything the league had to switch off. I think it’s something that should definitely be addressed, but there’s a fine line because it gives people a bit of positivity to watch games … I would definitely go for [NBA] switch off “
– Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) 7 January 2021
According to George, teammate Marcus Morris Sr., who appeared in his first game of the season due to a lingering knee injury.
From NBC Sports:
‘I think it happened so fast that it was one of those things where we just made a decision to just take a knee. But my personal opinion, it was not enough. I don’t think we should have played first. But we did it, and we got together, and we thought of taking a knee.
“It was not brought. I think guys were already playing. But if it was my decision, I would not. ‘
The precedent for an improvised closure of the NBA as a protest is well established. The NBA playoffs were interrupted for a day after players on the Milwaukee Bucks refused to play after the Blake shooting, followed by the rest of the league.
The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat were about to repeat history when they left the floor before the game early Wednesday. Instead of refusing to play, however, they decided to kneel before the game and release a joint statement protesting the treatment of black people compared to the muted response to Trump supporters by police in Capitol.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Bucks also allegedly considered another wildcat strike to protest the decision not to charge the officer who shot Blake, but by Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr.
[Giannis] Antetokounmpo said the team received a message from Jacob Blake’s father that the family wants them to play and use their platform, which they say helps the league’s most valuable player in a different way. to think.
Warriors forward Draymond Green was also against the strike, saying he did not think more strikes were the answer via the Los Angeles Times:
‘There’s always this exclamation’ Cancel the NBA game. Demonstrate the game. Don’t play, “said Warriors forward Draymond Green. ‘But if we are going to protest against these games and not play, everyone in America must be the same [wavelength]. Oh, the NBA canceled the game and did not play, but everyone’s just going to work? I mean that in my opinion is not the answer. The NBA does what the NBA can. We talk, we do all the things everyone has done. But at some point, we need legislators to change laws. ‘
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