Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Lakers, Nuggets on Taylor ruling: 'Wasn't enough'

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Wednesday, 23 September 2020 17:59

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- In the Los Angeles Lakers' meal room -- located down the hall from the court the team practiced on Wednesday -- the television had been left on. The news anchor was dissecting a Kentucky grand jury's decision not to prosecute any of the officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor.

In the ballroom-turned-practice-facility around the corner, the Lakers were finishing up the day's workout. LeBron James, sitting off to the side of the court eating a sandwich, discussed the decision with longtime friend Randy Mims and shook his head.

Lakers players, planning for a light practice after they lost Game 3 of the Western Conference finals to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, had their phones pinged by James earlier that afternoon, prepping them for the news.

"Bron texted the group chat that there might be an announcement made," Lakers guard Danny Green said. "Nobody was really happy about it. It was disappointing. In a sense, something was done, but it wasn't enough. Most guys felt it was definitely not enough. ... It's a tough one. It's a tough one."

On Wednesday, a grand jury in Louisville indicted one police officer -- Brett Hankison -- for shooting into neighboring apartments. Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid that resulted in the death of Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, on the night of March 13.

Like many Americans, NBA players have been anticipating a decision in this case for months. Calls for justice for Taylor -- and for the police officers involved in her death to be held accountable in court -- have been constant from players in the bubble in Orlando, Florida.

In the early days of the season restart, several players -- including Lakers guard Alex Caruso and Nuggets forward Jerami Grant -- dedicated entire interview sessions to discussing only Taylor.

NBA teams began to advocate for victims of police brutality in their own cities. Nearly a month ago, games in the bubble came to a halt after the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play their first-round game against the Orlando Magic as the team reeled from the shooting of Jacob Blake -- a Black man -- by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Green, who has talked about Taylor's case to begin every one of his media sessions since July, lamented the fact that the league's players haven't come together since an "all hands on deck" meeting in August in response to the Bucks' decision.

"We're still trying to make the proper steps," Green said. "We haven't even gotten the chance to reconvene. We need more time as a group -- not just as our team but as everyone in the bubble and outside the bubble -- to figure out how we can continue to get progress in these certain aspects, in these certain categories, in these certain communities, specifically with what happened today wasn't enough, we felt, and I'm sure most people around the country felt the same."

Caruso, a white player who has chosen to wear the message "Black Lives Matter" on the back of his uniform, pointed out that for as much attention as the Taylor case is receiving, racial inequity remains pervasive.

"This one case, I think, is the focal point right now, but even since then, there's been more Black innocent people that have been killed," Caruso said. "You know, it's just going to be a long journey. Steps like this are hopefully small steps in the right direction, but there's still such a long way to go."

The timing of Nuggets practice Wednesday also coincided with the grand jury's decision becoming public. Denver coach Michael Malone offered the floor to Grant to address the team, which Grant declined because the news was so fresh.

"He chose not to, which I truly understood," Malone said. "I at least wanted to give him, before we got into basketball, the option to do so because I know it's something that he's been carrying in his heart throughout this process."

Malone has consistently worn a black T-shirt with the words "Justice for Elijah McClain" printed on the front in white letters to news conferences in Orlando. McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, was walking home from a convenience store last summer when police officers in Aurora, Colorado, put him in a chokehold, causing him to become nonresponsive. McClain was injected with ketamine when paramedics arrived, which caused him to go into cardiac arrest, and he died a few days later.

"I know we've been using our platform down here to try to bring about education and a voice in a lot of players on our team, especially also spoken out on justice for Breonna Taylor," Malone said. "We have not gotten that justice. That's a shame. Hopefully that will change at some point."

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.

Read 255 times

Soccer

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

EmailPrintUnited States women's national team midfielder Korbin Albert apologized on Thursday for pr...

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

EmailPrintLeicester City manager Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position after an internal...

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe agent of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has criticised the...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

Basketball

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not play again this season...

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

EmailPrintFormer G League player Chance Comanche, who was charged with the murder of a woman whose b...

Baseball

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- That Juan Soto's first signature Yankee moment happened...

Ohtani welcomed, helps Betts, Freeman drive win

Ohtani welcomed, helps Betts, Freeman drive win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani was pleased with the quality of his at...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated