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Eric WoodyardESPN
Inside a Fiserv Forum with no fans on Wednesday night, it looked like business as usual, as members of the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks hit the central court for a normal tip.
However, after the current MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo won the first ball possession for the Bucks, both teams, including the technical team on the wings, suffered a knee. They repeated the act as soon as the Pistons caught the ball too.
The peaceful act came a day after prosecutors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, decided not to open criminal charges against police in the Jacob Blake shooting in August. Nearly five months earlier, the Bucks boycotted game 5 of their first round playoff match against the Orlando Magic on August 26 from inside the Orlando, Florida bubble in response to Blake’s shot. The boycott was the start of a three-day stoppage in the NBA.
Bucks players were in constant contact in a group chat on Tuesday, expressing their frustrations and concerns about the decision. There were frequent conversations about what they wanted to do before deciding on the kneeling gesture.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he also spoke with some team members after Monday’s 125-115 victory over the Pistons in anticipation of Tuesday’s decision.
“I hope we are all listening and learning and we are all growing up,” said Budenholzer. “But without a doubt, I as a coach and I who work with many amazing people, especially young African Americans, for whom these things are very important and they had their own personal experiences that they shared individually with me or collectively with our group, you you can’t help but sit and listen and grow, empathize. Know that you can probably never really understand what a lot of people went through, except me, we try to do better. “
Blake, who is black, was shot seven times by Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey, who is white, on August 23. Blake froze. The shooting, which took place in front of Blake’s three children and was videotaped, sparked huge protests in Kenosha, with more than 250 people arrested during several days of unrest.
The other two officers at the scene – Brittany Meronek and Vincent Arenas – will also face no charges, according to Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley.
Bucks pivot Brook Lopez, speaking before Wednesday’s game, described a feeling of “helplessness” after learning about the decision.
“It’s obviously disappointing. Very disheartening. I have a personal feeling of helplessness. I can’t imagine being in the position of Jacob Blake or in the position of his family or people who were or will be in situations similar to what he was at that time,” said Lopez , adding that he believes the Bucks’ shares were not in vain. “Just that feeling of helplessness. Is it like what you do at this point?
“It seems to me that the policeman’s reaction, if he was trained to shoot until there was no action or there was no movement or whatever. Shooting someone seven times, if he can have a knife or whatever and he is getting into your car, it seems so excessive in comparison. Once again, I can’t help feeling helpless. “