Minnesota shooting hits the NBA hard
Bucks to follow Timberwolves’ lead in responding
The Milwaukee Bucks have been at the forefront of many of the social justice conversations, and actions, in sports since they elected to not take the floor for a playoff game on Aug. 26, 2020, in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.
The wildcat strike in Orlando, Florida, created wide ripples across not just the NBA but all of professional, college and high school sports. Since then very real conversations have been had since about players not playing in games as a way to make their voices heard on social justice issues, from the Green Bay Packers talking about the season opener in
Minneapolis to the Bucks having discussions before their game against Detroit on Jan. 6 when no charges were filed in the shooting of Blake.
Now, leagues are being proactive. The Minnesota Twins, Wild and Timberwolves each postponed their scheduled games Monday following the shooting death of Daunte Wright by Brooklyn Center police following a traffic stop on April 11. Brooklyn Center is about 10 miles north of downtown Min
neapolis, and protesters have taken to the streets for several days.
On Tuesday night, the Bucks announced their game against the Timberwolves on Wednesday at the Target Center would begin at 3:30 p.m. rather than 7 as originally scheduled.
“I think the obvious thing to speak on right now that has been on everybody's minds is what's going on in Minnesota, another black man being shot and killed,” Bucks forward Khris Middleton said earlier Tuesday. “They're calling it an accident, a mistake, but I don't think that's just acceptable. It's happened over and over again, time and time again . ... It happened last summer. It's happened a couple times every year. At some point, we just need it all to stop.”
Coinciding with the death of Wright, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is on trial for killing George Floyd on May 25, 2020.
On Monday, the NBA Players Association released a statement that read, “We mourn the death of Daunte Wright and pray for his family and loved ones during this extremely difficult time.
“Our hearts go out to the entire Minneapolis community as they struggle to process this latest tragedy together with the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin.”
When the Timberwolves played their postponed game against Brooklyn on Tuesday afternoon, the Nets took the court wearing “With liberty and justice FOR ALL” shirts.
“To be experiencing this again in the middle of the trial is emotional and overwhelming,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said before the game.
The Timberwolves were already working through several other emotional off-court conversations, as owner Glen Taylor entered negotiations to sell the team to former baseball star Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. And, Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns had left the team to be with family on the one-year anniversary of his mother's death due to COVID-19.
The Bucks practiced in Orlando on Tuesday and remained scheduled to head to Minneapolis for their game against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
“It's really sad that this has happened again – Daunte Wright has been shot, killed,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Just the entire community, our thoughts are with them. Hopefully we can not have these conversations and have these feelings. But it happens again and again and again. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and we'll hope for better in the future.”
Budenholzer said having to continue these conversations is sad and frustrating, but he agreed with Middleton, who said, “We need that to lead to action.
“As far as where we fit in as a league, we're all together. I don't think there's one standout person, one standout team that's doing more than others. I think the only way we can fix this problem is if we all do it together and stand together and do it.”
Budenholzer said his team had not come to him with any plans or discussions about not playing Wednesday night, but he added the Bucks would be a part of whatever conversations the players, the league and Timberwolves had regarding the game. Middleton agreed and said they'll get in touch with the Timberwolves after arriving to talk over how they feel.
“I think it hits everybody heavy, but when it happens in your own backyard like it did with us last year in the summer, a lot of that responsibility as far as the things that are said and the actions that are being done, as far as on the court or whatnot, are on that city, that team, that organization, so we definitely want to follow their lead (Wednesday),” Middleton said. “We know they feel strongly about what's going on, what they're trying to do, what they're trying to get accomplished just like everybody else.”