NBA Decides To Play On In Wake Of Attack On Capitol

Just hours after the U.S. Capitol was stormed by hundreds of rioters Wednesday afternoon, 11 NBA games were played as scheduled. It wasn’t certain that would be the case when players from the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat walked off the court shortly before their national televised contest.

On Tuesday, Wisconsin authorities announced that the police officer who shot Jacob Blake in August would not face criminal charges. The players released a statement recognizing the way protestors in the summer were treated compared to the mob that supported President Donald Trump.

“2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed,” the statement read. “We play tonight's game with a heavy heart after yesterday's decision in Kenosha, and knowing that protesters in our nation's capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on. The drastic difference between the way protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given to today's protestors who acted illegally just shows how much more work we have to do.

“We have decided to play tonight's game to try to bring joy into people's lives. But we must not forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for a more equal and just America.”

NBA players boycotted games for three days in August after Blake was shot, and the season was nearly shut down for good. Teams chose a different route of protest Wednesday.

Players from the Heat and Celtics took a knee during the national anthem. Starters for the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons kneeled after the opening tip off.

The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors took a knee during the national anthem, though some players felt that wasn’t enough. Clippers forward Marcus Morris told reporters that he believed the two teams shouldn’t have played their game.

“In one America you get killed by sleeping in your car, selling cigarettes or playing in your backyard,” Celtics star Jaylen Brown told reporters. “In another America, you get to storm the Capitol. No tear gas, no massive arrests.”