The Milwaukee Bucks have released an official statement following the players' decision to boycott Game 5 of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic in light of the Jacob Blake shooting.

Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan made a joint statement in which they pledged their full support to the players in their hopes to “shine a light” on racial inequalities and social justice issues in America.

Lasry's son Alex (the Bucks' SVP) had also previously taken to Twitter to issue a statement of support for the players.

Milwaukee's players have their own experiences with police violence.

Shooting guard Sterling Brown was subdued with a stun gun in 2018 for a parking violation. Big man John Henson was the victim of racial profiling back in 2015 when a jeweler requested a police officer stand by as he tried to buy a watch.

For his part, veteran Bucks point guard George Hill wondered openly whether the players should have even gone to Orlando in the wake of the Blake shooting.

Hill also said that the players' decision to opt-in for the restart also took the focus away from the issues that really mattered to them:

“Coming here just took all the focal points off what the issues are,” the Bucks guard added, via Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY. “But we're here. It is what it is. We can't do anything from right here. But definitely when it's all settled, some things need to be done.”

Of course, the Bucks did do something about it, and their choice has rocked the professional sports landscape.

What comes next remains a mystery, but Milwaukee's players have the support of the owners.