Milwaukee Bucks provide statements following Game 5 boycott

The Milwaukee Bucks players and ownership spoke on the decision to boycott Game 5 of their playoff series with the Orlando Magic Wednesday afternoon.

Emerging from the locker room where they were in for more than three hours Wednesday evening, all Milwaukee Bucks players provided a statement on why they felt the need to boycott Game 5 of their first round series with the Orlando Magic.

Speaking in front of media in attendance down in Orlando and on behalf of the team were Bucks wing Sterling Brown and veteran guard George Hill and the fact that those two players read prepared statements were noticeable in itself.

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Brown led off with a statement that reads as follows:

"“The past four months have shed a light on the ongoing racial injustices facing our African American communities. Citizens around the country have used their voices and platforms to speak out against these wrongdoings. Over the last few days, in our home state of Wisconsin, we’ve seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, and the additional shooting of protestors. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action. So, our focus today cannot be on basketball.”"

Hill subsequently took the reins and put pressure on Wisconsin lawmakers and law enforcement officials to call for justice for those who shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back in Kenosha over the weekend:

"“When we take the court and represent Milwaukee and Wisconsin, we are expected to play at a high level, give maximum effort, and hold each other accountable. We hold ourselves to that standard, and at this moment, we are demanding the same from lawmakers and law enforcement. We’re calling for justice for Jacob Blake, and demand the officers be held accountable. For this to occur, it is imperative for the Wisconsin State Legislature to reconvene after months of inaction, and take meaningful measures to address issues of police accountability, brutality, and criminal justice reform. We encourage all citizens to educate themselves, take peaceful and responsible action, and remember to vote on November 3.”"

The Bucks’ ownership, meanwhile, provided a statement in support of the players and coaches making a stand for what’s right and protesting racial injustice and police brutality, with Blake’s shooting being the most recent example.

In the hours that have followed, the Bucks’ decision to boycott Game 5 against the Magic has sparked the wave of boycotts and postponements across the NBA, the MLB and the WNBA.

Time will tell what this means for the immediate resumption of this NBA season, if it comes to that, but the Bucks continue not to just talk about enforcing change, but act and inspire it from within their own locker room.