The Toronto Raptors have discussed the possibility of boycotting Game 1 against the Boston Celtics, per Malika Andrews of ESPN.
The Raptors are considering the possibility of not playing against the Celtics as a way to respond to the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Wisconsin.
Blake, a Black man, was shot by police on Sunday as he tried to enter the driver’s side door of his vehicle. His father said Tuesday that his son was shot seven times, while Blake’s attorney, Ben Crump, said his client is paralyzed and it would “take a miracle” for him to walk again.
“I’ll keep that between our team. We’re dealing with it in real time, and I think it affects everybody differently. It’s pretty fresh on my mind, and I’m sitting in front of a camera, so I’m just speaking as I’m going.
But, yeah, there’s a lot of different things that we’ve discussed,” the guard of the Raptors, Fred VanVleet, told reporters after Tuesday’s practice.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Boston had a similar team meeting Tuesday, but did not give more details on what was discussed between the players and staff.
Game 1 between the Raptors and the Celtics for the Eastern Conference semifinals will take place on Thursday, August 27.
