Raptors, Celtics considering boycott of Game 1 of playoff series

Members of the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics both separately confirmed Wednesday that they were considering boycotting Game 1 of their second-round playoff series scheduled to begin Thursday.

The developments come on the heels of the latest videotaped police shooting of an unarmed Black man. Twenty-nine-year-old Jacob Blake was recorded being shot multiple times in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. He remains hospitalized.

Raptors coach Nick Nurse told ESPN on Wednesday that the team's players would meet about the matter later in the day. Toronto guard Kyle Lowry told ESPN's Jay Williams that they were "exploring anything and everything."

"Boycotting the game has come up for them as a way to try to demand a little more action," Nurse said during his media availability. "That’s really what they want. I think there is enough attention and not quite enough action."

On Tuesday, two Raptors players - Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell - didn't rule out the idea of a boycott.

Raptors and Celtics players met Tuesday at their hotel about possibly boycotting Game 1, a source told ESPN's Marc J. Spears. The two teams were reportedly set to meet again Wednesday.

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum confirmed Wednesday that he and his teammates had discussed potential options.

"We're angry. We're just trying to come together to figure out a way where we can do something," Tatum said, per Yahoo's Keith Smith. "If we sit out a game, or the rest of the playoffs, we understand the impact that will have. We don't want to just keep playing and forget about the outside world."

At the same time, the NBA Players Association's executive committee is in active discussions with players who are looking for guidance as they consider potentially boycotting playoff games, league sources told Yahoo's Chris Haynes.

Players reportedly organized an assembly Tuesday night at the NBA's Walt Disney World Resort campus. Some reached out to the executive committee in recent days to express that they may not be in the right frame of mind to play basketball, sources told Haynes.

The union is reportedly educating players on the pros and cons of boycotting while promising that they'll be supported regardless of their decision.

Other notable NBA figures such as LeBron James and Doc Rivers have also spoken out about the police shooting of Blake.