OKC Thunder: Players meeting feedback includes poll on resuming playoffs

OKC Thunder captain Chris Paul led a player’s meeting to discuss the next steps following the Wednesday Game 5’s boycott.

On Wednesday, the OKC Thunder didn’t play their scheduled Game 5 of the first-round versus the Houston Rockets. In fact, none of the three scheduled games took place as all six teams elected to boycott in protest of the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin.

Throughout the duration of the bubble, players have played on courts with Black Lives Matter printed on them, kneeled in solidarity for anthems, and individually worn jerseys with messages on them.

Postgame interviews are often peppered with the constant message asking for the arrests of officers who murdered Breonna Taylor, Players are spearheading efforts to help promote or start businesses of Black owners, upgrade educational programs, and there is a big emphasis on voting November 3rd as well as at all levels of legislation.

LA teams initial feedback differs from 11 other teams on continuing the season:

For the players in the bubble, this Jacob Blake video and news was unsettling. They’ve entered Orlando to finish the season and much of the reason for the return was the exposure they would have to use their platforms to push reform to legislation and systemic racism.

But with yet another video of a Black man being harmed players are questioning if being in the bubble is wise or if there is something more they can be doing to expedite change.

To that end, a player’s meeting was held at 8:00 p.m. to help the group decide on a common direction of what should happen with the remainder of the season, and specifically what they can be doing to have a greater effect on change.

Tim Bontemps and Dave McMenamin of ESPN covered the day’s event and provided insights shared by Adrian Wojnarowski from the meeting.

Woj noted NBPA president (and OKC Thunder captain) Chris Paul made sure to go over the financial side of the picture if the players decide to cancel the season. We’ve touched on this fact previously  – that action would almost certainly lead to the Board of Governors canceling the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Moreover, Woj noted CP3 was pushing for a united front and desired a common stance from all parties (that didn’t occur – more on that below).

"During Wednesday’s meeting, sources told Wojnarowski, several themes emerged. Those included the NBPA explaining the financial implications of ending the season; NBPA president and Thunder star Chris Paul wanting the group to leave the meeting unified; Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum on needing a plan of action and Clippers coach Doc Rivers on players using their platform, continuing to work on voting efforts and holding police accountable."

The meeting ran several hours and other than the desire to be on the same page and effect change – plus figuring out how best to accomplish that no definitive answers were resolved. For example, the teams are leaning toward boycotting the three games on Thursday but didn’t confirm that was the case.

Those games were supposed to be the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets as well as the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks round one, Game 6’s as well as the first game of the second round between the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors (who were the first team to broach the subject of boycotting). Since there will be another meeting at 11 a.m. EST with the players it would seem likely no games would be played Thursday due to the lack of preparation time.

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There were varying reports from Shams Charania and Adian Wojnarowski regarding the ‘vote’ to continue the season. Shams said only the Lakers and Clippers voted to end the season whereas  Woj tweeted it was more of an initial poll to ascertain how the teams felt rather than a final vote to end or resume the playoffs.

LeBron James was said to be among those pushing for owners to do more (actionable items) and left the meetings followed by his Lakers teammates and the Clippers team.

Based on their exit from the room it does seem more like the LA clubs are leaning toward not playing but the fact there is no definitive answer and another meeting today implies nothing was definitively decided.

The players will meet again at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning and simultaneously the Board of Governors will be meeting separately.

Stay tuned for the results of these meetings and what direction the season is headed in this unprecedented NBA season.