Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown said he plans on playing if and when the NBA season restarts in Orlando, Florida, even though some players have raised concerns that doing so will take away from the national focus on systemic racism and police brutality.

Eric Woodyard of ESPN shared Brown's comments in which he said "I don't disagree with guys that want to sit out; they're doing it for a good reason." 

"I feel like it's an opportunity for me to use more of our platform and our resources to continue to bring awareness and shine light," he continued.

That the 25-year-old suggested playing will allow NBA players to use a bigger platform to shine light on issues echoes a statement the NBA released. It said "a central goal of our season restart will be to utilize the NBA's platform to bring attention and sustained action to issues of social injustice," per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium:

Brown's decision is all the more pertinent because he has an ongoing civil rights lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee.

In December, Woodyard reported that Brown elected to reject the city's $400,000 settlement offer. Brown said police officers tased him, used excessive force and targeted him because he was black during the January 2018 incident outside of a Walgreens store. What's more, released body-camera footage showed an officer stepping on his ankle while other officers mocked the idea of him filing a civil lawsuit.

The idea that some players may sit out because they are concerned with distracting from the current momentum against police brutality and systemic racism and playing amid a COVID-19 pandemic has been a major talking point in recent days.

Malika Andrews and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving and Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley formed a players' coalition in an effort to provide a voice for those with such concerns.

According to the report, the coalition is also looking for progress from the NBA in a number of areas, including improved hiring practices of black candidates for head coaching and front-office positions and more donations and partnerships with black-owned businesses and organizations.

If the season does resume, Brown's Bucks are on the short list of teams with realistic championship aspirations.

They are an NBA-best 53-12 and 6.5 games ahead of the defending champion Toronto Raptors, meaning they will be the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference barring complete collapse in their eight regular season games. The 6'5" forward is averaging 5.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game. 

The NBA trade deadline passed on Feb. 6, but Milwaukee Bucks center Robin Lopez is looking to cut a deal with some former Portland Trail Blazers teammates.

With the 2019-20 NBA season set to resume at the Walt Disney World Resort following a months-long hiatus due to COVID-19, Lopez is willing to exchange hotel rooms.

On Tuesday, Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic revealed the hotel room accommodations for the invited 22 teams, each of whom are scheduled to play eight regular-season games beginning July 30 before the 16-team playoffs.

The big man appears to favor the Yacht Club over his assignment at the Gran Destino, which is located within the Coronado Springs Resort property in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. But he's looked at the bright side of his situation as well, noting the proximity to Disney World's preeminent water park:

It's unclear why Lopez favors the Yacht Club, but some obvious reasons stand out. ESPN's Mark Jones and D'Arcy Maine, True Hoop's Adena Jones and WBZ's Dan Roche pointed out a few: 

Lopez is a big Disney fan, and the same goes for his twin brother and fellow Bucks big man Brook Lopez, who owns a home on the Disney World property, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. The brothers are frequent guests of all Disney parks stateside and worldwide, including Paris and Tokyo. 

When word emerged from Charania that Walt Disney World might house the NBA for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, Lopez immediately staked a claim to a favored resort:

Lopez won't be staying there, but if he's unable to make a trade with some old Blazer friends, then he'll have a nice consolation price at Gran Destino, a relatively new offering that opened last July.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Korver told former NBA player and ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson that he would support his black teammates and NBA peers if they decided the best way to enact social change was to not finish the 2020 season. 

He said:

"If we think that is the best way for change, I care more about change happening than a championship. On the other side, I am on a team that feels like we could win. And I have never won. I would like to win. So is there a way to do both? I think there's a conversation there. But again, I'm going to follow the lead of my black brothers and teammates on this."

There is a faction of players in the NBA, led by Kyrie Irving and Avery Bradley, who have questioned whether playing in Orlando would be healthy given concerns over the coronavirus and whether the resumption of basketball would distract from the needed social changes being highlighted by protests and marches around the nation.

That coalition released a statement, via Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews of ESPN. It read in part:

"We are combating the issues that matter most: We will not accept the racial injustices that continue to be ignored in our communities. We will not be kept in the dark when it comes to our health and well-being. And we will not ignore the financial motivations/expectations that have prevented us historically from making sound decisions.

"This is not about individual players, athletes or entertainers. This is about our group of strong men and women uniting for change. We have our respective fields, however, we will not just shut up and play to distract us from what this whole system has been about: Use and Abuse."

Other players have expressed the belief that the players could use the money they would earn and the platform they have to best combat those issues:

There is also the matter of what actions the NBA itself will take. Korver said he believes the NBA is the best professional league in all of sports but wants to see what the league will do in the fight against systemic racism. 

"I want change to happen. And I want to play a role in that however I can," he said. "I think there's an opportunity in Orlando to be like, 'How can we highlight change?' The NFL's come out with a $250 million [over 10 years to fight systemic racism] kind of their pledge how they'll be about change. What's the NBA going to do?"

It remains up in the air if the 2020 season will resume. But for Korver, being a positive force for change is the top priority. 

While Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks long term, insiders believe the coronavirus pandemic may lead to him taking a "wait-and-see" approach to signing an extension.

Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported the potential cap implications caused by lost revenue could lead to Antetokounmpo waiting rather than signing a supermax extension this offseason. 

"I always have said: Ask me once he has to make a decision," an Eastern Conference scout said. "It all comes down to timing. So many things can change. If they win it all, if they come through this and do that? There's no way he's leaving."

The supermax would pay Antetokounmpo 35 percent of the salary cap, beginning in the 2021-22 season. No one knows how greatly the cap will be affected by the losses of revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The damage isn't likely to be seismic, because about 80 percent of the regular season had been played before games were halted and the league plans on playing its full postseason slate.

Much of the revenue fall will be from a loss of gate receipts from the remaining regular-season games and playoffs.

The matter will become more complicated and affect Antetokounmpo a greater amount if fans still aren't allowed to attend games during the 2020-21 season. With COVID cases increasing in several states that have reopened and fear of a second wave coming in the fall, it's impossible to tell what sports—and, thus, sports revenue—will look like in the summer of 2021.

A five-year supermax was expected to net Antetokounmpo around $250 million. It's likely that number will take a significant hit.

Working in the Bucks' favor is they are the only team that will be able to offer Antetokounmpo a contract that even approaches that number. Other teams will be bound to a maximum of four years and 30 percent of the salary cap in 2021.

Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill is on the cusp of his team reuniting to challenge for an NBA title, and his mind is about as far away from the court as it could be. 

It's a perspective shaped by the events of the last few weeks—and the hundreds of years of institutionalized racism in the United States preceding them—following the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police in late May. 

Speaking on a panel titled "The State of Black America: A Discussion with Representatives from Sports & Entertainment" in his hometown of Indianapolis alongside Myles Turner, Tamika Catchings and Butler men's basketball coach LaVall Jordan, Hill said it's been hard for him to worry about playing basketball lately, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard: 

"I've been working every day since this all started with my body, my game and things like that, but as a whole, I [can't] care less about basketball right now. That's like my last worry. That's just the game I'm blessed to play. When the ball goes up in the air, I'm ready to play, I love the competitive side of it, but that's not who I am. So, that's my last thought on my mind is basketball. I [can't] care less what's going on. I think there's bigger issues and bigger things to tackle in life right now than a basketball game, but that's just my personal opinion."

Hill rose to prominence in Indiana's hypercompetitive high school basketball ranks, eventually returning to the city as a member of the Pacers after starring at nearby IUPUI in college. The city that referred to Hill as a "hometown hero" hasn't always been kind to the rest of his family, and it's been weighing on him more lately:

"If I didn't have [basketball talent, I possibly would've been that George Floyd. I possibly would've been all my family members that got gunned down in the streets in Indianapolis. So, yes, this for me, it impacts me even more because I've seen the killing going on, and I've seen the police brutality. I've seen that my cousin is laying in the street for an hour and a half before another police officer gets there. I've seen that. So, I get emotional because it really hurts. I've got interracial kids, and I'm scared just for my whole life...

"...So, for me, yes, I had frustration. Did I want to grab every gun that I own? Yes, I did. That's all I knew. But is it going to help? No. We've been doing this for 400 years. It's been the same. So, for me, it just means more because you're supposed to look at those people as protectors, and you don't have that. You're supposed to look at all these situations as learning lessons, but you're like, 'When is learning enough? Like when is it enough? Like when are we going to be tired of this? How do we change the narrative?' So, for me, it's just tough."

The 34-year-old is in the midst of his 12th NBA season and averaging 21.2 minutes per game off the bench, yet that all seems far away now. In Milwaukee, Bucks players have handed out water and food to protestors, organized their own demonstrations at Fiserv Forum and spoken in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Hill will continue to do the same, even as the NBA prepares to resume play in late July. 

"No, I'm not going to shut up and dribble. I don't care if you take my contract, I don't care if you say that I'm this or that; I'm human," Hill said. "I have a heart. I have a pulse. I have emotions. I'm a man. I have kids. I'm a father. I have a wife. I have friends. I have loved ones. It means [something] to me. I'm not going to just shut up and dribble."

Members of the Milwaukee Bucks took part in a protest outside of Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Sunday.

Across the country, Americans have demonstrated in the streets and gathered to demand action from elected officials to address police brutality and systemic racism.

Bucks stars Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about their experiences:

The Bucks announced they planned to host an event at their home arena before marching through downtown. According to The Athletic's Eric Nehm, the team estimated 7,500 people had arrived at Veterans Park by the end of the march.

Antetokounmpo also participated in Saturday's protest:

The Bucks issued a statement May 31 addressing the killing of George Floyd, which sparked the ongoing protests. They said they were "distraught and angered" by Floyd's killing and "remain deeply committed to address issues of social injustice."

Co-owner Marc Lasry said Sunday the issue is especially important for members of the organization, referencing Sterling Brown's arrest in January 2018, per Nehm:

"I think, at the end of the day, it's really just about trying to do the right thing. I think that's why we have been at the forefront of fighting social injustice. I think it has affected us a little bit more personally than other teams with Sterling, but ultimately, I think we were probably a little bit ahead of our time and you're seeing that everybody else is catching up. And you see everybody marching and you see everybody who is here, it's really all to support. Why else would we be doing it?"

Brown's car was double-parked across two handicapped spots while he visited a Milwaukee-area Walgreens. In his arrest report, authorities said Brown "became very aggressive" while speaking with an officer and "physically resisted officers attempts to handcuff him and he was taken to the ground in a controlled manner." Police used a Taser on Brown during the course of his arrest.

However, the Milwaukee Police Department disciplined the officers involved after determining they acted inappropriately. Mayor Tom Barrett said, "This type of behavior has no place in our city."

Brown filed a civil rights lawsuit and declined a $400,000 settlement from the city of Milwaukee in November, setting the stage for a potential trial.

Milwaukee Bucks wing Sterling Brown joined the protests in Minneapolis on Sunday against racial discrimination and disproportionate police brutality faced by the black community, leading chants of "No racist police." 

Rory Linnane of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel posted the video of Brown leading the chants:

Brown was arrested and stunned with a Taser in Jan. 2018 over a parking violation at a Walgreens pharmacy. Charges against Brown were ultimately dropped, and Milwaukee police publicly apologized to him in May 2018, releasing the bodycam footage of the arrest. 

Brown said at the time:

"What should have been a simple parking ticket turned into an attempt at police intimidation, followed by unlawful use of physical force, including being handcuffed and tased and then unlawfully booked. This experience with the Milwaukee Police Department has forced me to stand up and tell my story so that I can help prevent these injustices from happening in the future."

Brown has sued the city of Milwaukee and its police department for false arrest and has rejected a $400,000 settlement. 

On Saturday evening, Brown was joined in the protests by his teammates Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Donte DiVincenzo, Brook Lopez and Frank Mason II, per Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Bucks players wore "I Can't Breathe" t-shirts, echoing the words of Eric Garner and George Floyd, both black men who were killed while in police custody during arrests in 2014 and 2020, respectively. 

"We want change, we want justice, and that's why we're out here," Antetokounmpo said Saturday, per Steele. "That's what we're going to do today. That's why I'm going to march with you. I want my kid to grow up here in Milwaukee, and not to be scared to walk in the streets. I don't want my kid to have hate in his heart."

The Milwaukee Bucks organization announced plans to hold a protest march in support of social justice on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.

Per ESPN's Eric Woodyard, the event will start at the plaza in front of Fiserv Forum and include players, coaches, owners, management and staff members.

The Bucks took part in protests Saturday, per Hannah Jewell of Fox 6.

Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was seen handing out water to protesters.

Per Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sterling Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Brook Lopez, Frank Mason II and Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Giannis' brother) joined their teammate. They wore matching "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts.

Antetokounmpo also said a few words to the crowd:

"This is our city, man," Antetokounmpo said. "We got to come out here and support."

"We want change, we want justice, and that's why we're out here. That's what we're going to do today. That's why I'm going to march with you.

"I want my kid to grow up here in Milwaukee, and not to be scared to walk in the streets. I don't want my kid to have hate in his heart."

As for Sunday, Steele reported that remarks will be made at the Juneau Ave. and Vel R. Phillips Ave. intersection, followed by the march.

As many in Wisconsin took to the streets to protest systemic racism and police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was standing alongside them, passing out water, wearing an "I can't breathe" T-shirt and offering words of encouragement. 

"This is our city, man," Antetokounmpo said while speaking to the crowd. "We got to come out here and support. This is not the Bucks ... This is the community. We want peace. We want justice. And that's why we're out here. That's what we're going to do today. That's why I'm going to march with you guys."

Antetokounmpo was joined by Bucks teammates Frank Mason III, Donte DiVincenzo, Brook Lopez, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Sterling Brown, who were wearing the same T-shirt as the NBA's reigning MVP. 

Brown currently has a lawsuit pending against the Milwaukee Police Department following an alleged attack in which officers tackled, tased and arrested him in January 2018 for a parking violation. Brown was never charged with a crime and has since rejected settlement offers from the city.

According to Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the players arrived at the protest in U-Haul trucks packed with food and drinks to provide to demonstrators throughout the day. 

In a video taken at the protest, Antetokounmpo can be seen addressing the crowd. 

The NBA star joins NBA players past and present, such as LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Damian Lillard, Matt Barnes, D'Angelo Russell and Stephen Curry, in participating in or supporting the protests. 

Later in the day the Bucks announced it would hold a protest in support of social justice outside Fiserv Forum on Sunday afternoon. Players, coaches, management, ownership and additional staff are expected to attend.

Antetokounmpo has remained in Milwaukee during the NBA's hiatus following the birth of his first child in February. 

He and his Bucks teammates will soon travel to Orlando, Florida, to participate in the league's plan to restart the season with 22 teams at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. 

NBA players are using their downtime in various ways while awaiting word on the continuation of the currently suspended 2019-20 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as making a new mixtape, learning the guitar or playing in video game tournaments for charity.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard George Hill is enjoying a rather unique experience, however, as he's spending time on his 850-acre Texas Hill Country property, which has been developed into a ranch that hosts a wide range of animals that include kangaroos, zebras and wildebeest.

ESPN's Malika Andrews provided the exclusive on Hill's ranch:

"Fallow deer were the first animals Hill introduced on his land. Then he added sables -- 500-pound brown-and-white antelope that are native to Africa. Now, he has dozens of different animal species.

"Hill owns scimitar oryx—tan-and-white creatures that also are in the antelope family, with curved, pointy horns and big bellies. He has Arabian oryx and red lechwe. There are New Zealand red stag, kudu and ostrich, too."

Per Andrews, Hill owns six zebras, including a new one added to the ranch in early May. The list of animals on Hill's property also includes donkeys, elk and antelope.

Hill and his family live in San Antonio during the offseason, and the property is 35 minutes north of his home, per Andrews.

As for how much the animals cost Hill, Andrews provided the scoop.

"Hill says he purchases his animals from Texas-based licensed specialty breeders. According to Lonesome Bull Ranch—an exotic wildlife breeder in Corpus Christi—zebras run anywhere from $3,950 to $5,750. The most expensive animals on Hill's property are the female sable antelope and kudu, which cost $20,000 to $25,000 apiece."

The entire operation is legal, per Andrews, who noted that one can own exotic animals in Texas.

Hill said he hopes to pass down the ranch to his two children someday.

"I just think it's cool for my kids to see," Hill told Andrews. "And for them to have something different. Everyone has a dog or a cat. ... I just choose other animals."

Hill, who began his career with the San Antonio Spurs in 2008, has been in the league for 12 years with six teams. He currently averages 9.6 points per game for the Bucks, who own the NBA's best record.