Players and coaches from across the NBA have condemned both the attack on the United States Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and the decision not to accuse the police officer who shot Jacob Blake, with protests before and even during several games.
Some players wanted to take it a step further.
After Wednesday’s victory over the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George said he would have been in favor of closing the NBA:
Paul George: “I wanted the league to be closed. I think this is something that definitely should have been addressed, but there is a fine line because it gives people some positivity to watch the games … but I definitely would have been all for [NBA] turning off”
– Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) January 7, 2021
George was accompanied in his opinion by teammate Marcus Morris Sr., who was playing in his first game of the season due to a knee injury.
From NBC Sports:
“I think it happened so fast that it was one of those things where we made the decision as a whole, just on our knees. But my personal opinion was not enough. I don’t think we should have even played. But we did, and we came together, and we thought that kneeling was appropriate.
“This was not mentioned. I think the guys were already in the game. But if it were my decision, I wouldn’t have. “
The precedent for the makeshift closure of the NBA as a protest is well established. The NBA playoffs were interrupted for a day after Milwaukee Bucks players refused to play in the wake of Blake’s shot, followed by the rest of the league.
Boston Celtics and Miami Heat looked set to repeat history when they left the field before the game on Wednesday. Instead of refusing to gamble, however, they decided to kneel before the game and issue a joint statement protesting the treatment of blacks compared to the silent response to Trump supporters by Capitol police.
The Bucks also considered another wild strike in protest against the decision not to accuse the officer who shot Blake, but was pushed to play by Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr., according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
[Giannis] Antetokounmpo said the team received a message from Jacob Blake’s father that the family wanted them to play and use their platform, which the League’s Most Valuable Player said helped them to think of a different method of demonstration.
Also against the end of games was Draymond Green, of the Warriors, who said he did not believe that more hitting was the answer through the Los Angeles Times:
“There’s always that scream in ‘Cancel the NBA game. Protest the game. Don’t play, ”said Warriors’ Draymond Green. “But if we are going to protest these games and not play, everyone in America has to be on the same [wavelength]. Oh, the NBA canceled the game and didn’t play, but is everyone just going to work? I mean, that is not the answer in my opinion. The NBA is doing what it can. We talk, we do all the things that everyone has done. But at some point, we need legislators to change the laws. ”
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