ORLANDO -- The Milwaukee Bucks appear to have boycotted Game 5 of their playoff series against the Orlando Magic due to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, according to social media reports.
TMJ4's Lance Allan reported that neither team was on the floor as the pregame countdown clock hit zero.
Just moments ago @fswisconsin showed the clock hit 0.0 and both teams @Bucks and @OrlandoMagic are not on the floor. This is a true breaking news situation #Bucks
— Lance Allan (@lanceallan) August 26, 2020
- MORE COVERAGE: Illinois Teen Arrested For Double Fatal Shooting In Kenosha
- President Trump Says Gov. Evers Has Accepted Offer Of Federal Help
- Family Attorney Says Jacob Blake Didn't Have Weapon In His Car
ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on Twitter that the team had decided to boycott the game. ESPN is reporting that the team had "some discussion" about boycotting the game in the run up to this afternoon's events.
Two other NBA playoff games have been canceled over the same reasons: Houston and Oklahoma City, and the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland. The NBA said all three games would be rescheduled, yet did not say when.
The Milwaukee Bucks have decided to boycott Game 5, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
In comments posted less than a half-hour before the game was scheduled to start, the Bucks shared video on social media of Coach Mike Budenholzer discussing how his team feels about the police shooting.
"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.
"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." pic.twitter.com/BCmHZdFf1P
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 26, 2020
Earlier in the week, Bucks guard George Hill vented his frustration at social injustice following Blake's shooting.
Hill said the NBA’s decision to resume its season in a bubble at Walt Disney World has prevented players from working to address the country’s problems with racial violence and police brutality.
Hill said players “shouldn't have even come into” the Disney bubble while expressing his outrage over the Kenosha officers' actions.
Check back often for updates on this developing story.
