HOW PLAYERS DECIDED TO ACT

Video of the Jacob Blake shooting was a catalyst for the call to postpone games.

The ripple effect from Jacob Blake’s shooting by Kenosha, Wis., police reached the NBA’s Disney World campus in Florida soon after cellphone footage of the shooting began circulating on social media this weekend, but it led to a historic moment Wednesday when the Milwaukee Bucks refused to play their playoff game against Orlando.

Wednesday’s events, which soon included the postponement of all three games on the league’s playoff slate, followed days of impassioned statements by players and coaches around the league about the relationship between Black people and police in the United States.

It also came more than two months after many players questioned whether they wanted to take part in the league’s restart at all, out of concerns it would draw attention away from the reckoning on race ongoing throughout the country.

How the shooting came to stop the NBA:

Monday

After footage emerges, players begin discussing again whether basketball should be the focal point.

“We shouldn’t have even come to this damn place, to be honest,” Bucks guard George Hill said. The Bucks’ home arena is 40 miles north of Kenosha. “I think coming here just took all the focal points off what the issues are.”

After a victory against Portland in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series, LeBron James and Anthony Davis steer the postgame conversation beyond basketball when asked about Blake’s shooting.

“I know people get tired of hearing me say it, but we are scared as Black people in America,” James said. “Black men, Black women, Black kids, we are terrified.”

Tuesday

While preparing to play Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal, scheduled for Thursday, the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors acknowledge that discussions have begun among players about whether to play. That night, players from multiple teams meet at the Coronado Springs Resort at Disney World to discuss what to do, according to a Yahoo Sports report.

9:09 p.m.: After a victory against Dallas that gives the Clippers a 3-2 series lead, coach Doc Rivers delivers an emotional address. “What stands out to me is just watching the Republican convention, viewing this fear,” Rivers says. “All you hear is Donald Trump and all of them talking about fear. We’re the ones getting killed. We’re the ones getting shot. We’re the ones that we’re denied to live in certain communities. We’ve been hung. We’ve been shot. All you do is keep hearing about fear. It’s amazing why we keep loving this country, and this country does not love us back. It’s really so sad .... We got to do better.”

Clippers guard Lou Williams uses his postgame news conference to make one statement related to Blake’s shooting. “We came here to bring awareness and use our voices for other guys and, sadly, we’re here and it’s still happening, he says. We’re still seeing unarmed Black men get shot in the streets. It’s just ridiculous at this point .... . You kind of feel helpless in a way. You can use your voice in a way but I think our presence is much more felt.”

Wednesday

12:20 p.m.: Dallas coach Rick Carlisle says he does not believe there is a plan to boycott Game 6 of the Mavericks’ series against the Clippers on Thursday. But asked about the discussions of whether to play happening between the Raptors and Celtics, Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. says he would standwith whatever his fellow players decide.

12:55 p.m.: Minutes before the Bucks are to tip off in Game 5 of their playoff series against Orlando, only the Magic remain on the court during warmups. Eventually, the Magic leave the court, as well.

2:06 p.m.: The NBA postpones all three games Wednesday, including Houston-Oklahoma City and Lakers-Portland.

4:25 p.m.: Bucks players emerge to read a statement delivered by players Hill and Sterling Brown.