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LeBron James is the strongest voice in the NBA. Hell, he’s probably the strongest voice in all of sports. So when the King gets upset, you listen. The Milwaukee Bucks decided to protest their Game 5 against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday afternoon as a result of the shooting of Jacob Blake. The aftermath has sparked an outpour of support from the NBA community and a heavy reaction from James.
FUCK THIS MAN!!!! WE DEMAND CHANGE. SICK OF IT
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 26, 2020
Following the protest by the Bucks, the Rockets and Thunder reportedly were ready to also join in on the strike. After that, CNN reported that all NBA games on Wednesday had been canceled so the League can figure out a way to solve the issue and resume the postseason. Here we’ll be adding more reactions from around the League, including NBA players and the community.
Kenny Smith walked off the TNT set to stand with the NBA players.
.@TheJetOnTNT stands with the NBA players. pic.twitter.com/39Sby1D5kn
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 26, 2020
Rockets F Robert Covington
We Demand Change. We so sick of this!!!
— Robert Covington (@Holla_At_Rob33) August 26, 2020
Nuggets G Jamal Murray
WE DEMAND JUSTICE!!!
— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) August 26, 2020
T-Wolves C Karl-Anthony Towns
Shoot Hoops, Not People. pic.twitter.com/loHk0XJsvo
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) August 26, 2020
Spurs G DeMar DeRozan
This shit bigger than basketball! Whoever don’t understand that is part of the problem.
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) August 26, 2020
Jazz G Donovan Mitchell
WE DEMAND CHANGE! SALUTE @Bucks ✊
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 26, 2020
Heat C Bam Adebayo
SALUTE ✊ @Bucks
— 13am Adebayo (@Bam1of1) August 26, 2020
Grizzlies G Tyus Jones
WE DEMAND CHANGE!!!!
— Tyus Jones (@1Tyus) August 26, 2020
Celtics C Enes Kanter
We need CHANGE!
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) August 26, 2020
Change can NOT wait!
Former Heat great Dwyane Wade
Proud of our players! @Nba
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 26, 2020
The Boston Celtics Twitter account posted this as a way for everyone to help support the family of Blake.
#JusticeForJacobBlake pic.twitter.com/OhToTWSk9O
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 26, 2020
ESPN staff writer Harry Lyles Jr. had this powerful message. Now it’s on the NBA to figure out a better way to force change.
the players did this, not the nba. the nba wrote black lives matter on the floor and had to *approve* messages on the back of jerseys in a “hey how about this? are we cool now?” effort. sponsored protest isn’t protest. the players took it back
— Harry Lyles Jr. (@harrylylesjr) August 26, 2020
The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA tweeted support of the NBA players and their decision to protest.
Black. Lives. Matter.
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) August 26, 2020
✊ ✊ ✊ ✊ ✊ pic.twitter.com/PJXoVSOR06
Here’s a statement from the NBA referees.
The NBRA stands in solidarity with our players' decision to boycott tonight’s games in protest of the continued unjustified killing of black men and women by law enforcement. There are more important issues in our country than basketball and we hope this will inspire change.
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) August 26, 2020
Stephen A. Smith had a message for all the NBA players.
SO proud of the NBA players. pic.twitter.com/k62nNzBOUO
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) August 26, 2020