By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Aug 26, 2020 at 5:13 PM

The Milwaukee Bucks decided to boycott Game 5 of their NBA playoff series against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday afternoon, with the Milwaukee Brewers later following suit and sitting out their game against the Cincinnati Reds. 

While the Magic and the game's referees were on the court, the Bucks did not report to the floor at 3 p.m. when their playoff game was expected to begin. ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski first confirmed that the team was boycotting the game.

George Hill briefly clarified the reasoning for the boycott on Wednesday to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, noting, "We’re tired of the killings and the injustice," referring particularly to the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. Several Bucks players earlier this week, most notably Hill, spoke up about Jacob Blake, who was shot seven times in the back by a police officer on Sunday.

"We shouldn't have even came to this damn place, to be honest," Hill said to the media on Monday. "Coming here just took all the focal points off what the issues are. But we're here. It is what it is. We can't do anything from right here. But I think definitely when it all settles, some things need to be done."

Other teams, including the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics, reportedly were also discussing boycotting games due to the continuing police violence on Black people in America and the lack of progress on reform. Other NBA players past and present, including the league's biggest star LeBron James, have spoken up on Twitter since the news, supporting the Bucks' decision and insisting on justice and change.

Milwaukee Bucks senior VP Alex Lasry as well as Bucks owners Marc Lasry, Jamie Dinan and Wes Edens also tweeted their support for the team's boycott.

Shortly after, the NBA announced that the rest of the day's playoff games have been postponed, with plans to reschedule – though it is unclear when the players will agree to take the court again. 

Meanwhile, in a sign of solidarity with the movement, the Milwaukee Brewers will reportedly not play their game on Wednesday night against the Reds – with the Reds, according to Wall Street Journal reporter Jared Diamond, agreeing to sit as well. There is no word yet if the rest of the MLB will follow suit in boycotting play today.

Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more updates on players' statements on today's statement.

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.