"I would support that": After boycotts, Michael Malone, Nuggets wait on future of playoffs

Around an hour before the Game 5 of the first-round series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic was scheduled to tip-off, Michael Malone was asked if the Nuggets had held any discussions about potentially boycotting Thursday’s Game 6 against the Utah Jazz. Earlier Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics had reportedly discussed boycotting Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals scheduled for Thursday night.

Malone said the team hadn’t had any talks at that time about boycotting but that he would support his players if that was something they wanted to do.

“I think each individual player has to do what they feel is best,” Malone said. “By no means I think are any of the head coaches going to stand in anybody’s way. If our players came to me tomorrow and said we don’t feel comfortable playing, obviously I would support that. That has not been conveyed in any way shape or form from our guys to this point.”

“Obviously understanding the impetus behind that discussion, the fear of not doing enough. We’re playing basketball but the same things keep happening and happening and happening. So I applaud the conversation and I understand where the players are coming from, but I think it’s an individual discussions and a discussion that those teams and players have to have.”

Shortly after Malone spoke, the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t take the floor for pregame warmups. The Bucks never ended up leaving their locker room. As a team, Milwaukee decided to protest Blake’s killing by not playing Game 5. After the Rockets and Thunder also reportedly opted to not play Wednesday night, the NBA subsequently announced that the three games scheduled to be played this evening were “postponed.”

“Over the last few days in our home state of Wisconsin, we’ve seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, and the additional shooting of protesters,” part of the Bucks’ statement which the team delivered Wednesday evening read. “Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball.”

While in the locker room, the Bucks were reportedly on a conference call with n a conference call with Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes.

Jamal Murray and PJ Dozier both voiced their support for the Bucks’ decision not to play Wednesday on their social media accounts. Jazz point guard Donovan Mitchell tweeted in support of the Bucks as well.

WE DEMAND JUSTICE!!!

— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) August 26, 2020

It’s a difference between them hearing us and them listening! Time for sum to shake

— PJ Dozier (@Dozier_Kid) August 26, 2020

WE DEMAND CHANGE! SALUTE @Bucks ✊🏾🙏🏾🗣

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 26, 2020

“It’s tough because there’s times during the day when you don’t even want to think about basketball because there’s so much going on in the world. And then at the same time you’ve got to prepare for a win or go home playoff game. So it’s a really hard balance for us NBA players.” Michael Porter Jr. said. “… The stuff going on in the world is way bigger than basketball. For us, I feel like people look up to us so when we talk about these things it’s good for the world to realize how much it means to us too.”

The Nuggets’ official team account also tweeted in support of the movement and information on how to demand action with phone numbers listed for Kenosha’s District Attorney, Mayor/City Admin and the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

#JusticeForJacobBlake #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/JrXJEvtsbK

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 26, 2020

NBA players reportedly met Wednesday night to discuss how they’ll proceed following Wednesday’s boycotts. The Lakers and Clippers, according to multiple reports, are in favor of boycotting the remainder of the playoffs. An emergency Board of Governers meeting has been set for Thursday morning.

The Nuggets and Jazz are scheduled to play Game 6 of their first-round series Thursday at 4 p.m. ET. There’s obviously a great deal of uncertainty around if that game will take place.

The NBA restarted the season at Walt Disney World in July with a stated goal of taking “collective action to combat systemic racism and promote social justice.” ‘Black Lives Matter’ was painted on all three game courts and players and coaches dedicated Zoom sessions with the media to raising awareness for racial injustice and police brutality.

But players are frustrated that despite their efforts, no actionable change has taken place.

Players protesting by not playing in playoff games is brave and courageous and their actions have led to a watershed moment in NBA history. It would be easier for players to continue to tweet and educate through their own means, but as Malone was right to point out earlier this week, painting ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the court and wearing t-shirts with the phrase isn’t going to bring the lasting change that’s needed to combat the systematic racism that’s embedded deep within this country.

It’s clear that many of the league’s players hold that same view.