The NBA playoffs were paused on Wednesday as players postponed the games in protest after police shot 29-year old Jacob Blake seven times in the back over the weekend.
On Sunday, Blake was tased and shot in Kenosha, Wisconsin as he attempted to enter his vehicle’s driver’s side with his three children inside. Video of the shooting quickly went viral on social media. Blake’s father told media his son has been left paralyzed by the shooting.
The Milwaukee Bucks initiated the players’ protest, with other teams joining in and prompting the NBA to postpone the remaining games scheduled for Wednesday evening.
The decision by the players to sit out the games was widely hailed by current and former UNC athletes. Speaking on the set of “Inside the NBA” on TNT, Kenny Smith said his mind was “ready to explode” with the thoughts of the current situation.
“For me, I think the biggest thing now as a black man and former player — I think it’s best for me to support the players and not be here tonight,” Smith said before leaving the set of the show.
.@TheJetOnTNT stands with the NBA players. pic.twitter.com/39Sby1D5kn
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 26, 2020
Other UNC basketball athletes shared similar messages on social media.
“Tired of being tired!!” said Theo Pinson, “Change needs to happen!”
Tired of being tired!! Change needs to happen!
— Theo pinson (@tpinsonn) August 26, 2020
✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 @Bucks #JusticeForJacobBlake
— Harrison Barnes (@hbarnes) August 26, 2020
Salute ✊🏾 @TheJetOnTNT
— Garrison O. Brooks (@__garro) August 26, 2020
why is it hard to understand we are TIRED of being oppressed!
— Brandon Robinson (@BRob_4) August 26, 2020
Former UNC player John Henson voiced his encouragement for the Bucks as well. In 2015, a jewelry store employee refused to serve Henson, then a member of the Bucks, and called the police on him. The store owner later apologized for racially profiling Henson.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽LOVE IT @Bucks
— John Henson (@Johnhenson31) August 26, 2020
Hours before the players’ strike across the NBA, Portland Trailblazers rookie Nassir Little took to social media to clarify his stance on the Black Lives Matter movement and the purpose behind it.
“When I say black lives matter, I’m not referring to an organization, taking a political stance or following a trend,” Little wrote. “I’m telling whoever is capable of seeing or hearing the statement, that black lives matter. Simple.”
When I say black lives matter, I’m not referring to an organization, taking a political stance or following a trend. I’m telling whoever is capable of seeing or hearing the statement, that black lives matter. Simple.
— Nassir Little (@2ez_nassie) August 26, 2020
“We’ve been saying this for years about all the police brutality,” Brice Johnson wrote. “Y’all didn’t believe us..we have video evidence as clear as day now and y’all still ignore it.”
I don’t know what is it man. We’ve been saying this for years about all the police brutality…y’all didn’t believe us..we have video evidence clear as day now and y’all still ignore it
Y’all are ignorant AF.
— Brice Johnson (@bjohnson_23) August 27, 2020
Members of the UNC football team also took to social media and expressed their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Freshman tight end Kamari Morales posed a question, asking when a Black child went from being “cute” to being a “threat.”
Dear society,
When does a black baby boy stop being “cute” and considered a “threat”?— Kamari Morales™ (@KamariMorales) August 26, 2020
— 93..ひ (@VarnerKristian) August 27, 2020
We have had enough.. #BlackLivesMatter
— Joshua Ezeudu (@joshua61_) August 27, 2020
Want us to play for you so bad on the weekends but won't even help us stay alive during the week🤦🏾♂️ you tell me how that works!?! For those of you out there who do stand with us thank you. But this is for the others who I pray open their hearts and their eyes.
— Official Tomari Fox (@tomxri_fox54) August 27, 2020
UNC football coach Mack Brown said earlier this summer his football staff intends to keep listening to players about what issues are important to them.
“We’ve always listened to players, we’ve always wanted to understand who they were,” said Brown. “A lot of times I’ve gotten criticism for being too much of a players’ coach and being their buddy. That’s not the case. We’re very disciplined. But at the same time we’re all ears. We want to listen, we want to learn.”
Earlier this year, members of the UNC community spoke up about the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers and racial tensions in the country. The UNC basketball program also posted a video this offseason featuring head coach Roy Williams, Michael Jordan, and other former players across many generations, each voicing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
In addition to NBA games, multiple WNBA, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer matches Wednesday night were postponed in protest.
Photo via TNT.
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Listener since early 70’s. Aside from game announcing , you got nothing.You are irrelevant. No donation. I know the word on the owners. Cannot stand keck. Can we have more of keck and the Orange Co. constant campaigner tinker bell. Have made comments and asked questions. Never an answer. Irrelevant. For about two months you played good tunes. Then ran out?