The NBA is reportedly preparing to postpone games once there is a verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.
“The looming specter of possible protests, civil unrest and team reactions in the aftermath of a verdict has the league office preparing for the prospect that a night or two of league games could be postponed this week,” ESPN reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Closing arguments in the Chauvin trial are underway in Minneapolis, and a verdict could be reached this week. The former Minneapolis police officer is facing charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in George Floyd’s death.
Minneapolis is bracing for more riots if Chauvin is not found guilty, with Rep. Maxine Waters telling protesters outside of the city this weekend that they must become “more confrontational” if he is not found “guilty, guilty, guilty.”
The NBA has repeatedly canceled games in the last year in response to police shootings of black people, including last week for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets game after the police shooting of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
NBA superstar LeBron James has been among the most prominent sports players advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement, saying last summer that black people in America are “terrified” of being killed and that considerable changes need to be made to end racism.
While the league and its players have been vocal in their support for the Black Lives Matter movement, ratings for the games have suffered, with some saying that sports should not get involved in politics.
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“I think both sides, for the most part, want to see it just remain about the sport, not about politics,” legendary NFL quarterback Brett Favre recently said. “At least, that’s my interpretation. I know when I turn on a game, I want to watch the game. I want to watch players play and teams win, lose, come from behind. I want to watch all the, you know, important parts of the game, not what’s going on outside of the game. And I think the general fan feels the same way.”
The NBA did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment on reports that it is preparing to postpone games.
