After the Milwaukee Bucks opted not to play on Wednesday in the wake of Jacob Blake's shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the team placed a series of phone calls to politicians in their home state to ask how they can ignite palpable changes that helps African American people combat police brutality and racial injustice.
The Bucks made another notable phone call after their protest: with Blake's father, Jacob Blake Sr.
In his postgame media availability after Milwaukee defeated the Orlando Magic in their delayed Game 5 on Saturday, Giannis Antetokounmpo shared a few details about the conversation with Blake Sr.
“We were able to get his family's number in 30 minutes. We came together as a team…talked to his dad, and his dad was tearing up telling us how powerful what we did on that day was for him and his family,” the Bucks star recounted.
For the Greek Freak, hearing the emotion and gratitude from Blake Sr. is more memorable than any box score or slam dunk.
“That's bigger than basketball to me. That's bigger than basketball,” Giannis Antetokounmpo added about the call with Blake Sr. “Obviously, there's going to be games that you come in and score 30 points, 35 points, 50, whatever the case might be. But that…we're going to remember the way we felt for the rest of our lives.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo on Milwaukee Bucks’ phone call w/ Jacob Blake’s father after deciding not to play Wednesday: “His dad was tearing up and telling us how powerful what we had done… We’ll remember how we felt for the rest of our lives.” pic.twitter.com/9uzL6r6iYp
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 29, 2020
The Bucks also sent Jacob Blake Sr. an autographed jersey for his son, a gesture for which he was clearly appreciative as it made his son really happy.
“The thing that made him smile was the Milwaukee Bucks,” Blake Sr. said about his son, per CNN. “That made him smile, and I'm from Chicago. But now I am truly a Milwaukee Bucks fan because they reached out to my son, sent a jersey that was signed by the whole organization.”
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