'Still trying to push for better in our country': Milwaukee Bucks react to Kyle Rittenhouse verdict
In the hours following the not guilty verdict in the homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, NBA players and head coaches reacted on social media and in pre-game press conferences.
That was no different at Fiserv Forum, when Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said before his team played the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night that, "I think still trying to push for better in our country, hoping for improvement, organizationally just continue to fight for social justice, for better, but at the same time have to abide by the jury and the decision and the verdict and continue to fight for better."
Budenholzer anticipated having a discussion with the team prior to the game considering how intertwined Rittenhouse's trial was with the Kenosha police shooting of Jacob Blake, and that conversation did take place.
“We talked about it a little bit as a team,” Khris Middleton said after the game. “Speaking for myself, it was definitely disappointing but at the same time it really wasn’t surprising about the verdict. I watched it a little bit, was able to keep up with it, but it’s something that I think we’ve all seen over and over again.”
The Bucks have been synonymous with the Aug. 23, 2020, shooting of Blake, as the team performed a wildcat strike on Aug. 26 in the playoff “bubble” to protest police brutality and social injustice.
Rittenhouse shot three people, killing two of them, during protests Aug. 25.
When the Kenosha District Attorney decided to not press charges against Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey on Jan. 7, 2020, the Bucks and Detroit Pistons offered support for the Blake family by kneeling on the court for seven seconds.
In that instance, Bucks players said it was important to communicate with the Pistons and include them in their plans for a demonstration. In Florida, the Orlando Magic were on the court and ready to play when the Bucks elected to remain in the locker room and wildcat strike.
President Joe Biden took a moment to acknowledge the team’s efforts in pushing for social justice change when the team visited the White House on Nov. 8.
“Last year, as a team, you took a stand for justice and peace in the wake of Jacob Blake's shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin,” the President said during his address. “And you've gotten people engaged – no, it really mattered – because I remember calling your coach. You got people engaged in; in the vote, in the political process.”
Afterward, Brook Lopez credited George Hill for his voice and leadership.
"Thinking back to that day in the bubble when George did what he did, the stand that he made, the way he just stopped the whole world – not just the sports world – it was incredible,” Lopez said in Washington. “Obviously winning a championship was big for our team. That was again, our goal, but to be able to come here and speak to policy makers about it, who can help make that change, and speak to them about what we can do as well is great. Just creating those contacts, creating those relationships and helping to move all that forward.”
