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Despite being the two teams who are favored to compete for the NBA championship both the Lakers and the Clippers seem to be in favor of boycotting the rest of the season in protest of the Jacob Blake shooting.
On Wednesday night, NBA players held a league-wide meeting to vote on whether they wanted to continue the season after several teams boycotted their playoff games.
Before a packed room of teams in a hotel ballroom at Disney, the discussion is centering on whether to continue with the playoffs — or end the season, sources tell ESPN. So far, there seems to be momentum not to play the three playoff games on Thursday, but nothing's decided.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
Players spoke passionately about voting and police reform, per sources. There's a sense from some that if owners don't come up with something that makes them believe staying will help move these important issues forward, this season is done.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) August 27, 2020
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, both the Lakers, Clippers players including LeBron James had voted to cancel the rest of the season in protest of the Blake shooting.
Sources: Miami's Udonis Haslem spoke and essentially told everyone in room that — without Lakers and Clippers, how will season continue?
LeBron James walked out. Rest of Lakers and Clippers exited behind him.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020
Sources: The Lakers and Clippers have voted to boycott the NBA season. Most other teams voted to continue. LeBron James has exited the meeting.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020
Sources: Every team besides Lakers and Clippers voted to continue playing. LeBron James said in meeting he want owners to be more involved/take action.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020
The Lakers and Clippers being the first to vote to strike, and the Raptors and Bucks reportedly being some of the loudest voices in the room, speaks to the scale of this. Those with the most to lose putting it all on the line.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) August 27, 2020
Every team other than the Lakers, Clippers voted in favor of continuing the season but the meeting ended “ugly”.
Told the players’ meeting ended "ugly," per a source, with uncertainty about what will happen tomorrow. The union will be present at the special Board of Governors meeting, per a source.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) August 27, 2020
A league source in the bubble tells ESPN there was “no sense of accomplishment” now that tonight’s meeting has been adjourned. Added that the feeling of “uncertainty” will remain until tomorrow’s emergency 11 a.m. ET Board of Governors meeting occurs.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) August 27, 2020
Update: ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski provided a bit more context to the Lakers/Clippers vote.
The Clippers and Lakers voting on perhaps not continuing with the season was considered more of a polling, than a final vote, sources tell ESPN. The resumption of the playoffs remains still up in the air.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
Discussions on continuing season will extend into tomorrow, sources tell ESPN, but appears unlikely the three playoff games on Thursday will be played. "Everyone is still too emotional," one high-ranking source tells ESPN. "There needs to be more time to come together on this."
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020