Milwaukee Bucks veteran guard Wesley Matthews says the team is not “apologetic” for protesting Game 5 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Orlando Magic without telling anyone.
The Bucks decided not to play Game 5 on Wednesday after Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police in Wisconsin. Milwaukee received some criticism from other players in the players' meeting on Wednesday for not informing anyone about their strike plans.
However, Matthews says you “can't script change.”
“I feel like we did what any team would've done in that situation. And we're not apologetic for what we did, what we feel is right,” Matthews said ahead of Saturday's rescheduled Game 5 against the Magic, via ESPN's Eric Woodyard.
“Obviously, with communication it could've been a little bit better, but in a moment like that, sometimes there isn't time for it. You can't script change. You can't script moments. And we saw an opportunity to be with our brother, to show that we're human, to show that this is visibly and emotionally and physically impactful even though we are here in the bubble, disconnected from the outside world in certain retrospect, that it still hits and it's still a problem and a call to legislation to help.”
The NBA is back on Saturday following the three-day protest. The Bucks may have made a drastic move to protest, but it appears they made the right move, as players needed a break after another Black man was shot in America despite being unarmed.
The Bucks are one win away from advancing to the second round of the playoffs. They will face the Miami Heat once they take care of business against the Magic.
Follow Us
Subscribe