This game is unavailable
A historic moment.
Good morning. I hope those of you in the path or wake of Hurricane Laura are safe.
We’re going to do today’s newsletter a little out of order.
Scores
NBA
Magic X, Bucks X —
George Hill & Sterling Brown read the @Bucks full statement on their decision to boycott today's playoff game.
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) 11:45 PM ∙ Aug 26, 2020
Thunder X, Rockets X —
Kenny Smith just walked out on NBA on TNT in support of the players' boycott
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) 10:36 PM ∙ Aug 26, 2020
Blazers X, Lakers X —
Chris Webber
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) 10:55 PM ∙ Aug 26, 2020
I know so many black fathers who feel exactly like Robert Horry
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) 11:02 AM ∙ Aug 27, 2020
WNBA
Mystics X, Dream X —
Center @E_Williams_1 reads statement on @espn as the representative for all @WNBA players. Tonight's games have been cancelled.
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) 11:08 PM ∙ Aug 26, 2020
The Mystics are arriving to the game in shirts that spell out Jacob Blake, and it appears on the back there are red marks to signify the 7 bullet holes that Milwaukee police shot into his back. https://t.co/VvR2k5tEu4
— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) 9:41 PM ∙ Aug 26, 2020
After games were boycotted Wednesday night, the entire @WNBA bubble organized and participated in a candlelight vigil. People were encouraged to speak their heart. They are in this together.
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) 7:22 AM ∙ Aug 27, 2020
Sparks X, Lynx X —
“We’re trying to also figure out what actionable items can come out of this because we stand in solidarity with our brethren.” - @Nnemkadi30 on the boycotting of today's contest.
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) 12:54 AM ∙ Aug 27, 2020
Sun X, Mercury X —
"We're not just basketball players. We're so much more than that."
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) 11:26 PM ∙ Aug 26, 2020
Ariel Atkins with a powerful statement on the unified decision to not play tonight.
#BlackLivesMatter
Schedule
NBA and WNBA Players’ Meetings, Ongoing
After players from both leagues, led by the players of the Milwaukee Bucks, refused to play scheduled games on Wednesday in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc., there was a heated meeting involving NBA players. Reports suggest that Lakers and Clippers players expressed their desire to end the season right here and now. Other players reportedly argued in favor of trying to continue to play.
Jaylen Brown reportedly challenged players who want to leave bubble and go home "If you leave, are you going to leave and hang out with your families?are you going to be in the trenches, are you going to be in the streets? (via
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) 5:41 AM ∙ Aug 27, 2020
@MarcJSpears )
Reports suggest discussions will continue early Thursday as players determine their collective or individual courses of action. While there is less reporting on the matter, one imagines WNBA players will similarly continue to discuss their path forward in or out of Bradenton.
NBA Referees Protest March, 9 a.m. ET
God love the referees, who are staging a protest march around Coronado Springs.
Please stand with us at 9 ET this morning as we march against racism and grieve for the black lives taken too soon. Join us as we unite in the bubble, and around the world, to fight injustice and police brutality. #EverybodyvsRacism
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) 12:21 PM ∙ Aug 27, 2020
@NBA @TheNBPA
Seriously: legitimate respect to these folks.
Emergency NBA Board of Governors Meeting, 11 a.m. ET
The NBA Board of Governors will reportedly convene Thursday morning to discuss next steps. Several teams made official statements regarding the players’ decision to refuse to play on Wednesday, all positive but none offering any new concrete actions THEY WILL TAKE on social justice. A relevant example from the 11th richest person in the world:
A statement from @Steven_Ballmer.
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) 2:44 AM ∙ Aug 27, 2020
One would hope the 30 powerful business titans who are partners in this $8 billion industry can come up with a little more than a statement. We’ll see soon enough.
Two NBA Game 6s, An NBA Conference Semi Game 1 and Three WNBA Games
No one could possibly expect anyone to play on Thursday, right? Right. Everything is extremely fluid, but one expects at least an indication of whether or not the seasons will continue or be suspended indefinitely by the end of Thursday.
The protest has spread to other sports beyond pro basketball. Multiple baseball teams refused to play, including the Milwaukee Brewers. Naomi Osaka announced she would not play in the semifinals of a WTA tour event on Thursday; the ATP and WTA later canceled all of Thursday’s matches.
This is a historic moment. Whatever happens next will not change the fact that the best basketball players in America, men and women, joined together to protest police violence and the lack of progress toward ending it by refusing to play. This is a historic moment.
Links
Black Lives Matter.
