NBA Issues Statement On Playoff Games Postponed In Wake Of Boycott

The NBA on Wednesday postponed its playoff games after the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the floor for Game 5 of their series against the Orlando Magic.

NBA players reportedly voted Thursday to continue the season despite some initial uncertainty over whether they’d leave the Orlando bubble. But games won’t resume until Friday at the earliest, as Thursday’s games also have been postponed.

The NBA released the following statement Thursday regarding its postponed playoff games and the league’s next steps:

Here’s the full statement from NBA executive vice president Mike Bass:

“NBA playoff games for today will not be played as scheduled. We are hopeful to resume games either Friday or Saturday. There is a videoconference call meeting scheduled later this afternoon between a group of NBA players and team governors representing the 13 teams in Orlando, along with representatives from the National Basketball Players Association and the league office and NBA Labor Relations Committee Chairman Michael Jordan, to discuss next steps.“

The Bucks’ boycott occurred amid protests related to racial injustice and police brutality, two topics brought to the forefront again this week in wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake.

Blake, a Black man, was shot this past weekend in Kenosha, Wisc., by police responding to a domestic dispute call. According to Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul, a single officer, Rusten Sheskey, shot Blake in the back seven times as Blake opened the door to a car containing three of his children.

The incident, which currently is under investigation, has prompted responses from several high-profile athletes and coaches. It remains to be seen what ultimately will come of the NBA season.