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Eric WoodyardESPN
On Wednesday night, in a Fiserv Forum without fans, it seemed like an ordinary affair, as members of the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks hit center field for a normal tip-off.
However, once the current MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, won first possession for the Bucks, both teams, including the coaching staff on the sidelines, knelt down. They repeated the act once the Pistons received the ball.
The peaceful act came a day after prosecutors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, decided not to file criminal charges against police officers in the August shooting of Jacob Blake. Nearly five months earlier, the Bucks boycotted Game 5 of their first-round game in front of the Orlando Magic playoffs on August 26 inside the ball in Orlando, Florida, in response to Blake’s shooting. The boycott was the beginning of a three-day stint in the NBA.
The Bucks players were in constant contact in a group chat on Tuesday, expressing their frustrations and worries about the decision. There were frequent conversations about what they wanted to do before deciding on the kneeling gesture.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he also spoke with several team members after Monday’s 125-115 victory over the Pistons, pending Tuesday’s decision.
“We hope we all listen and we all learn and we all grow,” Budenholzer said. “But without a doubt, I as a coach and myself, who work with a lot of amazing people, especially young African American men, that these things are very important and have had their own personal experiences that they have shared. individually with Me or collectively with our group, you can’t help but sit and listen and grow, empathize. You know you probably can’t really understand what a lot of people have been through, but I’m trying to do better myself. “
Blake, who is black, was shot seven times by Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey, who is white, on August 23rd. Blake was paralyzed. The shooting, which took place in front of Blake’s three children and was captured on video, sparked large protests in Kenosha, with more than 250 people arrested in a few days of unrest.
The other two police officers on the scene – Brittany Meronek and Vincent Arenas – will not be charged, according to Kenosha District Attorney Michael Graveley.
Bucks center Brook Lopez, speaking before Wednesday’s game, described a feeling of “helplessness” after learning of the decision.
“It’s obviously disappointing. Very discouraging. I have a personal sense of helplessness. I can’t imagine being in the position of Jacob Blake or the position of his family or the people who have been or will be in similar situations. “At that point.” Lopez said, adding that he believed Bucks’ actions had not gone in vain. “Just that feeling of helplessness. Is it like you’re doing this right now?
“To me, it seems like the officer’s reaction, if he was trained to shoot until there was no action or there was no movement or anything else. To shoot someone seven times, if he can have a knife or anything something else and he gets in the car, it seems so excessive in comparison. Again, I can’t help but feel helpless. “