Several players worried the NBA restart would be an unnecessary distraction from the push for social justice before games resumed at the end of July. The issue resurfaced earlier this week following the shooting of Jacob Blake, bringing the Orlando bubble experiment close to a premature end.
During an emotional players meeting on Wednesday night, a number of teams — including the Los Angeles Lakers — reportedly opposed the resumption of the playoffs, claiming NBA stars should focus on supporting the fight against racism and police brutality outside of the bubble.
Talks continued overnight and following a conversation with former U.