By Ben Neely
NBA playoff games were postponed today after the Milwaukee Bucks and other teams refused to take the court.
The Bucks were the first team to decide not to play after growing frustration over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The NBA and the NBA players association then later confirmed that all three games for the day had been postponed.
The Bucks team walked together outside the locker room and released a statement highlighting their team’s decision to not participate in the playoff game against the Orlando Magic.
“Over the last few days in our home state of Wisconsin, we’ve seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, and the additional shooting of protestors. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball.”
Milwaukee Bucks player statement.
All players inside the bubble in Orlando then held a private meeting to address the situation as speculation grows that the players are looking to boycott the rest of the season.
A number of players also took to twitter to show their frustration as tensions rise across the United States.
“We demand change, we are sick of it,” Lebron James said.
The NBA Coaches Association backed the players, releasing a statement on twitter showing their support.
“The NBA Coaches support our players 100%, The restart happened largely because of the platform it provided. The baseless shootings of Jacob Blake and other black men and women by law enforcement underscores the need for action. Not after the playoffs, not in the future, but now.”
NBA Coaches Association statement.
The players are scheduled to have another meeting tomorrow morning.