Milwaukee Bucks Take a Stand, Boycott Playoff Game 5 vs Orlando Magic
The Milwaukee Bucks shocked the world and the NBA when they boycotted Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Orlando Magic.
The NBA came to Orlando with heavy hearts and a clear message they wanted people to hear: Black Lives Matter. It was talked about by the players. It was painted on the court for the television audience to see every game. It was the message once more when the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted Game 5 of their first round playoff series against the Orlando Magic.
The Bucks and Magic were set to tip-off at 3pm CT in a first round matchup that the Bucks lead 3-1. With Orlando warming up on the court, Milwaukee’s players never came out of their locker room and eventually boycotted the game.
Other teams such as the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors had been openly discussing boycotting Game 1 of their second round matchup with the media, but there had been no word if the Bucks were contemplating something similar. It turned out that was the case as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania broke the news a few minutes before the game.
The Milwaukee Bucks still haven't come out to the court for Game 6 with the Orlando Magic and there's been some discussion within the Bucks about a boycott, sources tell @malika_andrews and me. NBA officials have gone into the Milwaukee locker room.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
George Hill wasn’t on the Bucks’ active roster heading into Wednesday’s game and has been one of the most vocal players with the media when it comes to discussing the situation of black people being disproportionally killed by police officers in the United States. And he released a statement to Marc Spears shortly after the boycott saying, “We’re tired of the killings and the injustice.”
Bucks guard George Hill says to @TheUndefeated his team is not playing against Orlando tonight in light of shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc. “We’re tired of the killings and the injustice,” Hill to @TheUndefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 26, 2020
It’s unclear if the Bucks will play in Game 6, but it is known this has captured not only the attention of the NBA world, but also the world in general. This is tremendous leadership and courage being shown by the entire Bucks’ roster, as they are working together for something bigger than themselves.