Another day of the NBA playoffs will be postponed, but the postseason will return at some point.
In a statement issued by the NBA on Thursday, the league said the three playoff games scheduled for Aug. 27 will hopefully be played in the coming days.
“NBA playoff games for today will not be played as scheduled. We are hopeful to resume games either Friday or Saturday,” NBA Executive Vice President Mike Bass said in a statement released Thursday.
“There is a video conference call meeting scheduled later this afternoon between a group of NBA players and team governors representing the 13 teams in Orlando, along with representatives from the National Basketball Players Association and the league office and NBA Labor Relations Committee Chairman Michael Jordan, to discuss next steps.”
The NBA issued the following statement pic.twitter.com/8xvdWFoq3C
— NBA (@NBA) August 27, 2020
The WNBA, which postponed its games on Aug. 26, is also postponing its games on Thursday night.
Players across the NBA have been adamant that more needs to be done to effect social change after the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc.
The Milwaukee Bucks did not take the floor before the start of Game 5 against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, an action they later stated was due to the police shooting of Blake, subsequent civilian shootings of protestors and the lack of legal response to those and other national occurrences of social injustice that preceded them.
After Wednesday night in Orlando at the Walt Disney World campus housing the season restart, players and owners met to discuss the state of the season. Per multiple reports, the NBA’s players decided Thursday to resume the 2020 playoffs.
On Wednesday afternoon, the NBA announced that the three games scheduled for Aug. 26 — Bucks vs. Magic, Rockets vs. Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers — were postponed. Each of those Game 5s will be rescheduled, per the NBA.
Here’s the latest news on this developing situation:
Sources say Lebron James was the last player to speak on the call and he delivered a strong, thoughtful message to the owners. His main point was that the work has to continue, and the owners have to truly dedicate to advancing this cause.
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 27, 2020
Sources say Michael Jordan has taken a strong position to help owners see different point of views. On today's call – he said he isn't just speaking as an owner, or even a player…he's speaking as a black man.
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1299130150349488128
The joint call with the owners just concluded. Sources say players had a list of important things. Players want organizational changes – including dedicated coalition w/ Full time job to manage the issues. Voting, police reform, etc. Wanting to be proactive instead of reactive.
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 27, 2020
ESPN's Jackie MacMullan on Michael Jordan's impact in bridging the gap between NBA players and owners. https://t.co/qAP2LLC0m8
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
There will be @TheNBPA meeting today at 4 PM with board & 2-3 reps from every team to iron out what they want to address in the meeting with the owners. Participants are expected to take place in the meeting with the owners scheduled for 5 PM. Hope is owners will offer more help.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 27, 2020
The following was released by the WNBA: pic.twitter.com/1QFpQJxrYU
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 27, 2020
Rockets plan to practice today, a source told @TheAthletic
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) August 27, 2020
Was told #Celtics F Jaylen Brown had a strong voice in player meetings. Said “If we go home are we going to be on the front lines? If not, we might as well stay and play.” Wanted to ensure players joined the struggle once they left the bubble.
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) August 27, 2020
Change doesn’t happen with just talk!! It happens with action and needs to happen NOW! For my @IPROMISESchool kids, kids and communities across the country, it’s on US to make a difference. Together. That's why your vote is @morethanavote ✊🏾 #BlackLivesMatter
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 27, 2020
Sources: Players today discussed the sacrifices all of them have made to reach this point in the postseason, and sense of normalcy returning with families entering Disney Campus. Players who voted not to play on Wednesday night understood.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020
Can report, along with @GregSylvander, that Udonis Haslem (@ThisIsUD) was instrumental in speaking with key players, hearing concerns while working out a way to resume the NBA season. This comes from several people involved in the process.
— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) August 27, 2020
The NBA's players have decided to resume the playoffs, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
Meeting adjourned. @Giannis_An34 and other players going to lunch. pic.twitter.com/tKsNCbr6XM
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 27, 2020
Conversations have been ongoing throughout the morning among owners, league executives, coaches and players about how the league can restart these playoffs, sources tell ESPN. The players and Board of Governors have separate meetings set to start now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
ESPN Sources: Several key members of Lakers — and some peers around league — stayed up until early AM hours talking through issues in The Bubble. Among key players in league heading into 11 AM meeting, there's optimism about a majority of players wanting to continue playoffs.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020
Added NBA ref Marc Davis, who led those in attendance in a brief pledge where they repeated his words after each of these sentences: "It's not right versus left. It's right versus wrong. Everybody versus racism."
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) August 27, 2020
NBA referees are assembling to begin marching around the campus in support of the players who took a stand last night. “We’re here because we feel like our group is a representation of America, or what America could be. … This is not right vs left, this is right vs wrong.” pic.twitter.com/2yU5FIeyDO
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) August 27, 2020
Please stand with us at 9 ET this morning as we march against racism and grieve for the black lives taken too soon. Join us as we unite in the bubble, and around the world, to fight injustice and police brutality. #EverybodyvsRacism@NBA @TheNBPA
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) August 27, 2020
