Report: Bucks to not play Game 5 vs. Magic in protest

UPDATE: The Bucks players released a statement explaining their decision to not play on Wednesday.

UPDATE: Bucks Senior VP and the son of the team owner has tweeted in support of the team’s decision to not play:

UPDATE: The Bucks are in their locker room right now, trying to get ahold of Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. Magic players are leaving the arena soon, not accepting the Bucks’ forfeit of the game.

Magic C Nikola Vucevic and G Evan Fournier, along with the rest of the Magic, have left the arena and are heading to their hotels. Both players denied comment.

Magic G Michael Carter-Williams said the team was unaware of the Bucks’ decision but supported it and stands with them.

UPDATE: The Bucks have decided to boycott Game 5, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic have yet to take the court for Game 5 of their first-round series in the NBA bubble in Orlando. Players on the Bucks are in serious discussions about boycotting the game as a result of the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin a few days ago.

Here’s a video from the bubble via Taylor Rooks of Turner Sports with no players on the court.

Here’s a video from Malika Andrews of ESPN of game balls being put away in the hallway. Would not appear like this Game 5 is going to happen.

Bucks G George Hill had this to say to The Undefeated about the players protesting Game 5.

San Antonio Spurs G DeMar DeRozan and Nuggets G Jamal Murray were among players to show support for the Bucks in their protest. Players around the League continue to tweet their thoughts on social media.

The Bucks have been victims to social injustice in Milwaukee. Sterling Brown was tasered by MPD in an incident in the past. John Henson, a former Bucks PF, got the police called on him when visiting a jewelry store after signing a $44 million contract.

It was first reported by ESPN on Tuesday that the Raptors and Celtics had discussed the idea of boycotting Game 1 of their second-round series after the shooting. More meetings have taken place since then, including one with members of the NBA Players Association, about sitting out until something is done about the social injustice and unrest in the U.S. There were reports that players are very emotionally distressed after the shooting. Raptors coach Nick Nurse even commented that some players have talked about leaving the playoffs and going home.

For some historical context, we haven’t really seen anything like this in the NBA before. Players came close to protesting a game after the Los Angeles Clippers staged a silent protest against then owner Donald Sterling, who was banned from the NBA for life back in 2014 after his racist remarks were surfaced toward Magic Johnson.