NBA Players React to Milwaukee Bucks Boycott
The Milwaukee Bucks chose to boycott Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake. After they did so, players from around the NBA reacted on Twitter with messages of support.
LeBron James led the charge, coming out with a forceful message:
FUCK THIS MAN!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 26, 2020
Many others joined in:
WE DEMAND CHANGE! SALUTE @Bucks ✊????
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 26, 2020
WE WANT CHANGE!!
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) August 26, 2020
respect ✊?
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) August 26, 2020
this shit gotta stop ‼️
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) August 26, 2020
WE DEMAND JUSTICE!!!
— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) August 26, 2020
We have the strongest, most unified league in the world!!! #change
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) August 26, 2020
Respect! ✊?
— LaMarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) August 26, 2020
WE DEMAND CHANGE!
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) August 26, 2020
SALUTE ✊? @Bucks
— 13am Adebayo? (@Bam1of1) August 26, 2020
WE DEMAND CHANGE! WE DEMAND JUSTICE!
— Terance Mann (@terance_mann) August 26, 2020
Proud to be apart of this League... even more today ! WE WANT CHANGE??
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 26, 2020
✊?✊?✊?✊?✊?
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) August 26, 2020
PROUD TO BE APART OF THE NBA
— Langston Galloway (@LangGalloway10) August 26, 2020
Shortly after the Bucks decided to sit out their game, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets decided not to play Game 5 of their first-round series as well. The Lakers and Blazers followed suit so all games on Wednesday will not be played.
A good point was made about this development. The teams aren't "boycotting" they're actually striking:
This is a strike, not a boycott. NBA players are seizing their means of production to effect change.
— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein) August 26, 2020
People will continue to call it a boycott colloquially, but this is truly a strike in order to effect change.