NBA Playoffs: Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers vote to cancel remainder of season

Two of the NBA’s biggest teams have thrown their weight behind shutting down the remainder of the season in the fight against racial injustice.

NBA players have had enough and have decided to take a serious stance.

Throughout the entirety of the NBA bubble in Orlando, the players have used their platforms to protest against police brutality and racial injustice.

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NBA superstar LeBron James has continued to be a leader by calling for change and on Thursday he didn’t hold back.

“F*** this man! We demand change. Sick of it,” LeBron James tweeted.

After the three scheduled Thursday games were called off following the Milwaukee Bucks’ call not to take the court in the wake of the police shooting of black man Jacob Blake, a meeting was held between the NBA and the players to decide the next steps.

A vote on what should happen next resulted in the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers voting for the remainder of the season to be shut down.

“Miami’s Udonis Haslem spoke and essentially told everyone in room that — without Lakers and Clippers, how will season continue? LeBron James walked out. Rest of Lakers and Clippers exited behind him,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania tweeted.

Every other team left in the playoffs voted to continue playing.

A meeting has been announced for the Board of Governors tomorrow.

Sources: Every team besides Lakers and Clippers voted to continue playing. LeBron James said in meeting he want owners to be more involved/take action.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020

One NBA player to me following the meeting: “It was emotional. Heated. It doesn’t look good right now, but we’re all hoping that everyone will sleep on it and maybe we can figure it out tomorrow because most of us still want to find a way to play.”

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 27, 2020

After the Bucks opted to boycott their playoff game, the Major League Baseball game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds was called off with two other MLB games following suit. Along with the NBA, the WNBA and MLS also postponed the scheduled Thurday games.

Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka annouced she would be withdrawing from her semi-final at the Cincinnati Masters as she joins the protests across the sporting world.

“Before I am a athlete, I am a black woman. And as a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis,” Osaka tweeted.

The courts were empty today.

The NBA announced in a statement the three games would be rescheduled.

Blake was shot in the back seven times at close range by police officers after breaking up a fight between two women.

Miraculously Blake survived but was later confirmed to be paralysed from the waist down. The shooting rocked America and led to widespread protests, following in the wake of the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor deaths.

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart was strong in his stance the time for serious action had arrived.

“We tried the peaceful way, kneeling, we tried to protest, we tried to come out here and get together and play this game and tried to get our voice across, but it’s not working. So, obviously, something has to be done,” he said.

NBA players, teams and legends of the game threw their support behind the Bucks’ move not to take the floor in protest of the recent shooting.

“For those who don’t understand what going on, it will always be bigger than basketball! We demand change!!! We demand justice! Have a blessed day,” Warriors guard Eric Paschall wrote.

“We demand justice,” Denver’s Jamal Murray tweeted.

“We demand change! Salute @Bucks,” Utah’s Donovan Mitchell tweeted.

“This sh*t bigger than basketball! Whoever don’t understand that is part of the problem,” DeMar DeRozan wrote.

“I’m moved by all the @NBA players for standing up for what is right. To my man @TheJetOnTNT I would like to say Thank you for what you did to show your support for the players. I am so proud of you. Keep getting in good trouble,” 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell wrote.

“@Bucks power. Black power. Nothing but respect for Milwaukee’s players and coaches,” Scottie Pippen wrote.