Report: Lakers, Clippers Vote To Boycott NBA Season

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers have voted to boycott the NBA. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, other teams remaining in the NBA bubble voted to finish the NBA schedule set to run through October. What that means for the rest of the season remains to be seen.

NBA players held a meeting Wednesday night after the Milwaukee Bucks chose to protest game five of their opening-round series with the Orlando Magic, remaining in their lockerroom throughout beyond the scheduled opening tip. Within the hour, the NBA opted to postpone all three games scheduled for Wednesday.

While the Lakers, the league’s highest-profile team voted to boycott the season, LeBron James, the league’s highest-profile player may have an ulterior solution according to Charania.

“Sources: Every team besides Lakers and Clippers voted to continue playing,” Charania tweeted. “LeBron James said in meeting he wants owners to be more involved/take action.”

Sources: Every team besides Lakers and Clippers voted to continue playing. LeBron James said in meeting he want owners to be more involved/take action.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020

The league’s Board of Governors, a collection of owners and team representatives, are set to meet Thursday morning to discuss the recent actions taken by the players.

Bucks Protest Unplanned

According to Charania, the Bucks protest of game five was unplanned and came together as the team sat in the locker room.

“Sources: There was some frustration in meeting toward Bucks blindsiding on walk-out plan,” Charania tweeted. “Bucks’ George Hill admitted he first sparked conversation pregame to boycott contest, teammates supported.”

Sources: There was some frustration in meeting toward Bucks blindsiding on walk-out plan. Bucks’ George Hill admitted he first sparked conversation pregame to boycott contest, teammates supported.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 27, 2020

Players from the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics had discussed the idea of boycotting the opening game of their second-round series set for Thursday, though conversations appeared exploratory.

Future Games

As the future of the season hangs in the balance, it appears unlikely the three games scheduled for Thursday will take place. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, sources close to the situation believe the players are not in an emotional state to play.

“Discussions on continuing season will extend into tomorrow, sources tell ESPN,” Wojnarowski tweeted. “But appears unlikely the three playoff games on Thursday will be played. ‘Everyone is still too emotional,’ one high-ranking source tells ESPN. ‘There needs to be more time to come together on this.'”

Discussions on continuing season will extend into tomorrow, sources tell ESPN, but appears unlikely the three playoff games on Thursday will be played. "Everyone is still too emotional," one high-ranking source tells ESPN. "There needs to be more time to come together on this."

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 27, 2020

The Utah Jazz were set to open the NBA’s Thursday schedule in their game six matchups with the Denver Nuggets.