The NBA bubble in Orlando almost popped this past week after players boycotted the games amidst the ongoing social unrest in the United States. The uproar came after Jacob Blake, a 29-year old black man, was unjustly shot seven times in his back by police officer Rusten Sheskey.
The Milwaukee Bucks kickstarted the movement and chose not to play Game 5 against the Orlando Magic on Thursday. As they discussed about their stance, they also reached out to the father of Jacob Blake to both offer words of encouragement and solidarity, and also ask for his input on whether to proceed with the postseason. In fact, several others sought for Jacob Blake Sr. and tried to reach out to him, including Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
Unfortunately, Blake Sr. missed what could have been an unforgettable call from The King himself. Nonetheless, Blake Sr. made sure to let James know he didn't intend to miss the call, as he reportedly was on a flight when that happened.
“Please let LeBron know I did not mean to miss his phone call, I wasn't putting him on hold,” Blake Sr. said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “They made me turn my phone off on the plane.”
James and Blake Sr. will probably get the chance to talk in the near future. The three-time NBA champ was reportedly one of the more outspoken figures during the discussions between the players and executives. So, he probably wanted to get the input of Blake Sr. as well.
Nonetheless, the league has ironed out the issues for the mean time and they have incorporated an action plan moving forward while the playoffs continue.
The NBA is making sure they get it done right. They committed to using the season's return as a platform to address the social issues in America. With what they have done so far, expect the NBA to send an emphatic message with whatever plan they have on their sleeves.
Follow Us
Subscribe