The Milwaukee Bucks basketball team has decided to boycott its Wednesday NBA playoff game with the Orlando Magic over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, Variety has confirmed.
Tip off between the two teams was scheduled for 1 p.m. PT, but as of present the Bucks team is refusing to take the court. The Magic had been warming up for the game, but then left the court when it became clear their opponents weren’t coming out.
Blake was shot seven times by a police officer earlier this week as he was trying to get into his car. The shooting, which has left Blake partially paralyzed according to his family, was captured on video, and has led to large-scale protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Those protests have resulted in two people being killed, and one being seriously injured in multiple shootings.
Whether the game has been called off entirely is yet to be confirmed by the NBA.The NBA did not reply to Variety‘s request for comment by the time of publication.
It would appear that the Bucks organization wasn’t entirely aware of the boycott prior to the game, as the team’s official Twitter account posted about the lineup for the game in the build-up.
However, prior to the game Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said it would be difficult for hit team to play the game given what is happening in the Bucks’ home state.
“It is a great challenge to have an appreciation and a desire to want change. To want something different and better in Kenosha, Milwaukee and Wisconsin and then to go out and play a game,” Budenholzer said in a press interview.
Several NBA stars have already taken to social media to share their support for the Bucks’ decision, including Los Angeles Lakers leader LeBron James.
(Excerpt) Read more in: Variety