LeBron James, Donovan Mitchell, More NBA Players Praise Bucks' Strike
Aug 26, 2020
Referees huddle on an empty court at game time of a scheduled game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic for Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Several NBA players took to social media Wednesday in support of the Milwaukee Bucks' reported decision to strike and not play Game 5 of their first-round playoff series over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin (NSFW warning).
Protests have broken out in the city of Kenosha after a police officer shot at Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, seven times on Sunday. Police tasered Blake upon responding to a domestic disturbance call, and at least one officer fired shots at Blake when he attempted to get into his car to check on his three children.
Attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing the Blake family, toldCBS News that Blakewas at the scene because he was attempting to deescalate a fight. Crump said Blake is paralyzed from the waist down and will likely not walk again.
The shooting of Blake is the latest in a series of acts of violence against Black people, including the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Several NBA players had been hesitant about resuming the 2019-20 season because they did not want to distract from the push for social justice that had been ongoing since Floyd's death in police custody in May.
Bucks Refuse to Play Game 5 vs. Magic After Shooting of Jacob Blake
Aug 26, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Marvin Williams (20) celebrates with teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) after an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Orlando Magic Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Bucks won 121-106. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
The game was originally scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. ET, yet the Bucks remained in the locker room with the start approaching. The Magic had been warming up but subsequently left the court as well.
Both teams have cleared the court with fewer than five minutes left on the clock before Bucks & Magic. Protocol for how or when to declare a forfeit or postponement remains unclear. Bucks have expressed outrage over Jacob Blake police shooting in recent days. pic.twitter.com/dnYuqrvUEy
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium provided additional details into what went into the decision:
Our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania joined "The Stadium" to discuss the latest on the Bucks Playoff protest and the ripple effect sent across the league. pic.twitter.com/W2UfxId7jQ
"We're tired of the killings and the injustice," Bucks guard George Hill said to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.
Bucks owners Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan released a statement, saying, "We fully support our players and the decision they made. Although we did not know beforehand, we would have wholeheartedly agreed with them. The only way to bring about change is to shine a light on the racial injustices that are happening in front of us. Our players have done that and we will continue to stand alongside them and demand accountability and change."
Bucks general manager Jon Horst later announced Milwaukee players would not speak to the media on Wednesday, per Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report.
Alex Lasry, the team's vice president of strategic marketing and business operations, indicated the organization will support the players' decision:
Some things are bigger than basketball. The stand taken today by the players and org shows that we’re fed up. Enough is enough. Change needs to happen. I’m incredibly proud of our guys and we stand 100% behind our players ready to assist and bring about real change
ESPN'sMalika Andrewsprovided context on what happened behind the scenes:
"The scene outside the Bucks locker room right now: league public relations staffers, ball boys and team/league security are standing off to the side. Several high ranking league officials are having conversations in the hallways outside of the locker room."
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks spent time on talking to Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul on the phone from the locker room following the postponement. Charania added:
Reporting from Orlando on @Stadium to discuss the Bucks leading NBA players boycotting games in wake of Jacob Blake shooting. pic.twitter.com/R6W3WX5FDs
Earlier Wednesday, Yahoo Sports'Chris Haynesreported that the National Basketball Players Association's executive committee was discussing on the logistics of staging a boycott in the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Haynes noted some players felt as though they weren't "in the right frame of mind to play basketball."
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged the team has thrown around the idea of not playing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
"Boycotting the game has come up for them as a way to try to demand a little more action," he said, perDoug Smithof theToronto Star. "That's really what they want."
Police reported to analleged domestic disturbanceon Sunday. Ben Crump, an attorney for Blake's family, said Blake was at the scene to break up a fight between two women.
A video showed Blake walking to the driver's side door, with two officers following him with their guns drawn. As he opened the door, one officer grabbed the bottom of Blake's tank top, and multiple gunshots are heard.
TheMilwaukee Journal Sentinel'sAshley Luthern reported Blake is paralyzed from the waist down after his spinal cord was severed as result of the shooting. He also suffered internal organ damage.
Two people were shot and killed and a third was wounded during protests sparked by Blake's shooting in Kenosha on Tuesday evening. CNN reported authorities have arrested Kyle Rittenhouse and charged him with first-degree intentional homicide in connection to the crimes.
The NBA hasattempted to draw attentionto social justice initiatives during its restart in Florida, such as featuring the phrase "Black Lives Matter" on the court for games and having players wear BLM-themed warmups.
However,Mannixreported in June that some players were concerned about whether the return of games would divert attention away from attempts to achieve the goals at the heart of the nationwide demonstrations.
Hill expressed his frustration over the situation Monday.
"First of all, we shouldn't even have came to this damn place, to be honest," hetold reporters. "Coming here just took all the focal points off what the issues are. But we're here. It is what it is. We can't do anything from right here."
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Named 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Aug 25, 2020
Boston Celtics' Gordon Hayward (20) looks to pass as Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old beat out Anthony Davis and Rudy Gobertto earn the honor for the first time in his seven-year career.
Although Giannis was a two-time NBA All-Defensive selection and an NBA MVP entering the 2019-20 campaign, he was never quite able to nab the accolade of being the NBA's best defender until now.
The four-time All-Star put up big numbers this season, especially on the defensive side with 13.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. He also averaged 29.5 points and 5.6 assists.
The positive impact he made on the Bucks this season can't be overstated, as he helped lead them to a 56-17record and the No. 1 seedin the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive campaign.
While Giannis has long been a dominant defensive player in the NBA due to his length and athleticism, he has often been overlooked for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, perhaps due to the fact that he's a top-flight offensive player as well.
Players who clearly excel more defensively than they do offensively have often won the award in recent years, including the likes of Joakim Noah, Draymond Green and Gobert.
Giannis is more in the mold of Kawhi Leonard as far as NBA DPOY winners go, but given the impact he makes on that end of the floor and his team as a whole, it is difficult to argue against the notion that he deserved to take the honor.
George Hill on Shooting of Jacob Blake: 'We Shouldn't Have Even Came' to Orlando
Aug 25, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill regrets taking part in the NBA restart instead of keeping the focus on the protests against racial injustice.
Hill commented on the situation after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot multiple times in the back by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition in the intensive care unit.
"We shouldn't have even came to this damn place, to be honest," Hill said Monday of the season restart in Orlando, via Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. "Coming here just took all the focal points off what the issues are. But we're here. It is what it is. We can't do anything from right here. But I think definitely when it all settles, some things need to be done."
During the four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus, NBA players took on key roles in protests following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed in police custody in Minnesota.
Hill took part in protests in Indianapolis in June.
Multiple NBA players, including Kyrie Irving, were concerned the return of basketball would take the attention away from that cause, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Though Hill elected to play, he believes more needs to be done off the court.
"I think this world has to change," the guard said Monday. "Our police department has to change. Us a society has to change. Right now, we're not seeing any of that. Lives are being taken as we speak, day in and day out. There's no consequence or accountability for it. That's what has to change."
The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating the shooting and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.
Milwaukee Bucks 'Praying' for Jacob Blake After Being Shot by Police on Video
Aug 24, 2020
Members of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics kneel around a Black Lives Matter logo before the start of an NBA basketball game Friday, July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
The Milwaukee Bucks have issued a statement about the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday.
The organization said it is "praying" for Blake's recovery and stands "firmly against reoccurring issues of excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging the Black community":
Head coach Mike Budenholzer also addressed the shooting during his pregame press conference on Monday:
“I would just like to send out my thoughts and prayers to Jacob Blake and his family...we need to have change, we need to be better.” pic.twitter.com/qf6qAsnopc
Per Eliott C. McLaughlinand Alta Spells of CNN.com, Blake is in "serious condition and fighting for his life" after being shot multiple times in the back while entering an SUV on the driver side:
"In the video clip, an African American man walks around the front of a gray SUV with two officers a step or two behind him, one with his weapon trained on the man's back. As the Black man enters the driver side door of his car, the nearest officer grabs the tail of his tank top and seven shots are heard.
"The man entering the car appears to go limp. A sustained car horn blares. A woman nearby jumps up and down, apparently in anguish."
Per McLaughlin and Spells, Officers were originally responding to a report of a domestic disturbance, and Ben Crump, a lawyer for Blake's family, said Blake was leaving the scene after attempting to break up a fight between two women when he was shot.
McLaughlin and Spells noted the officers have been placed on administrative while the Wisconsin Department of Justice's division of criminal investigation looks into the shooting.
Giannis Drops 35 as Bucks Cruise Past Magic 121-107 to Take 2-1 Series Lead
Aug 22, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after dunking against the Orlando Magic during Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
The Milwaukee Bucks grabbed a 2-1 lead in their first-round series with a 121-107 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 3 on Saturday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo took over once again with a game-high 35 points, and the Bucks shot 56.1 percent from the field.
Milwaukee built a 27-point lead by halftime and went up 34 in the second half before a late charge by the Magic closed the gap. Each game has been decided by double digits.
D.J. Augustin and Terrence Ross played well off the bench for Orlando, but without a huge game from Nikola Vucevic, it was too short-handed to compete with Aaron Gordon and Michael Carter-Williams still unavailable because of injuries. James Ennis III was also ejected in the first half along with Milwaukee forward Marvin Williams.
After their surprising Game 1 win, the Magic simply haven't been able to keep up with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
This opened things up for the rest of his team, and the Bucks shot 63.6 percent from the field in the first half on the way to a 70-43 lead. They outscored the Magic 39-20 in the second quarter alone.
Khris Middleton also woke up after scoring just two points in Game 2, netting 17 points.
Milwaukee needs the All-Star to take pressure off Antetokounmpo, perhaps especially later in the playoffs if the team makes a deep run.
With eight different Bucks hitting three-point shots and the team shooting 17-of-37 (45.9 percent) from beyond the arc, the Magic had no chance.
D.J. Augustin, Terrence Ross Help Short-Handed Magic
Jonathan Isaac is out for the year, and Gordon and Carter-Williams have missed the series—and Orlando lost another starter early when Ennis was ejected alongside Williams:
Orlando just lacks enough options to keep up with Milwaukee.
What's Next?
The teams will continue their afternoon matchups in Game 4, which is set for 1:30 p.m. ET Monday.
Giannis Posts 28 and 20 as Bucks Bounce Back in Game 2, Even Series with Magic
Aug 20, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against the Orlando Magic during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
The Milwaukee Bucks bounced back from their Game 1 defeat with a 111-96 win over the Orlando Magic to even the first-round series at 1-1.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played at an MVP level with 28 points and 20 rebounds, preventing the No. 1 seed from falling down 2-0 in the series.
A top seed hasn't been eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs since 2012.
The Bucks were aggressive early in this one, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter before going up 21 points at halftime. The Magic chipped into the margin and got within single digits late in the fourth but failed to complete the comeback.
Milwaukee still couldn't contain Nikola Vucevic in Game 2 after the center dominated the opening win, but Orlando struggled offensively while shooting just 34.8 percent from the field. With Aaron Gordon still out with a hamstring issue and Jonathan Isaac unavailable after tearing his ACL, the lack of depth was apparent Thursday.
The Magic still haven't won two games in a postseason series since 2011 when Dwight Howard was on the roster.
Playing without Gordon and Michael Carter-Williams made things even tougher for the Magic, who would be facing an uphill battle with them. It's left the squad without three of its top nine scorers.
D.J. Augustin scored 10 points but was 0-of-5 from the field, while Markelle Fultz (11 points) and James Ennis III (eight points) were also relatively quiet. Each of these players will need to come through with bigger showings in Game 3 and beyond.
What's Next?
There is no shift in location like there would be in a normal series, but an important Game 3 will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
Giannis on Approach After Bucks' Game 1 Upset: 'Do Whatever It Takes to Win'
Aug 18, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) fouls Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) while reaching for a loose ball during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
"Play harder," he said when asked what his approach will be when it comes to leadership going into Game 2, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. "Be more vocal. Lead by example. At the end of the day, I can’t change who I am and what I do. And what I do, as I said early is that I get on the court and do whatever it takes to win."
It's hard to blame the reigning MVP for the 122-110 loss, as he finished with 31 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists. He even hit three triples, which is not exactly his forte and that stood out in a game that the Bucks connected on just 33.3 percent of their three-point attempts.
Khris Middleton was just 4-of-12 from the field for 14 points, while Milwaukee couldn't contain big man Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic exploded for 35 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, exploiting weaknesses in the Bucks defense and proving a matchup problem with his outside shooting.
If there is a silver lining for the top-seeded Bucks, it is recent history.
The Magic shocked the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series last season just for Kawhi Leonard and company to win the next four and parlay that momentum into a championship run.
This is a championship-or-bust postseason for the Bucks after finishing with the league's best record, so they have a blueprint to follow moving forward even after an early loss to Orlando.
All it will take is a win in Thursday's Game 2 for the Bucks to quickly shift the narrative of the series.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks Bucks' 'Frustrating' 3-5 Record in NBA Seeding Games
Aug 15, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) scores a basket against the Miami Heat during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed frustration Saturday with the way the Milwaukee Bucks played in the regular-season seeding games inside the NBA bubble near Orlando, Florida.
After his team went just 3-5, Giannis gave his take on Milwaukee's performance to ESPN's Eric Woodyard:
"It wasn't frustrating because we were losing. Like, losing is part of basketball, losing is part of the game, but, obviously, what was frustrating because at times I think we wasn't ourselves. We wasn't moving the ball as much as I wanted to move the ball or as much as [coach Mike Budenholzer] wants us to move the ball. We wasn't defending as hard. As I said, there was times that we were ourselves, where we were the No. 1 team in the league on defense, but there were times that we showed that and there was times that we didn't."
Despite their poor record in the bubble, the Bucks finished as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive season, as they went 56-17 overall in 2019-20.
Antetokounmpo noted he had an especially difficult time with sitting out the Bucks' final contest against the Memphis Grizzlies while serving a one-game suspension for head-butting Washington Wizards forward Moe Wagner:
"I think the most frustrating part for me was probably the Memphis game, sitting in the hotel and not being able to be out there to help my teammates compete and win a game and losing a lot of money. But, yeah, this is over. This is in the past. Now it's playoff time. I definitely don't believe in the turn-on switch that everybody talks about, like we can turn on the switch and be great, but I do believe that if everybody is on the same page and if everyone is focused and get together and watch clips and be on the same page and we know what our game plan is, I believe we can play way, way better."
Giannis hasn't been the issue for Milwaukee in the bubble, as he averaged 27.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game after the restart. Overall, Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game on the season.
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Those numbers might be good enough to make him the 12th player in NBA history to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards.
Last season, Giannis and the Bucks were favored to go all the way and represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, but they fell to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. Milwaukee is once again favored to win the East this year as the top seed.
The Raptors, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are all threats, although Toronto is without Kawhi Leonard this year, as he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers after leading Toronto to its first championship last season.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks will look to get back on track Tuesday when they face the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Suspended 1 Game for Head-Butting Moe Wagner
Aug 12, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to move the ball against the Houston Rockets during an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
He will miss Thursday's final seeding game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Milwaukee has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The incident came in the second quarter of Tuesday's game against the Wizards, following an offensive foul called against Antetokounmpo. After some back-and-forth chatter, the Bucks forward head-butted his opponent:
Antetokounmpo was given a flagrant-2 foul and was ejected from the game.
It was only the third time the 25-year-old has been ejected in his career, while he also only has six flagrant fouls in seven years in the NBA.
Giannis apologized for the incident after the game, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic:
"Terrible action. If I could go back and turn back time and go back to that play, I wouldn't do it. But at the end of the day, we're all human, we all make mistakes. I think I've done a great job all year, in my career, of keeping my composure and focusing on the game, but like I said, we're human, we make mistakes. But at the end of the day, learn from it, keep playing good basketball and keep moving forward."
He also noted his anger wasn't with Wagner but a "buildup of dirty plays in my mind."
It was the second time in the Orlando bubble that Antetokounmpo seemingly lost his cool, also having an altercation with Brooklyn Nets forward Donta Hall:
On that occasion, he was separated before he did any damage.
There is no denying Antetokounmpo's impact on the court, entering the day averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. He is the reigning MVP of the league and is a favorite to bring home the award for a second straight year.
The Bucks have plenty of depth to survive without the superstar, led by Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. Brook Lopez has also had big games in Orlando while more than 10 players can contribute on a given night.
Being the most efficient defense in the NBA should also help the team compete without its top scorer.
Milwaukee is still fortunate not to lose one of the best players in the league for any playoff games as it tries to bring home a championship.
