100 NBA employees strike as sign of solidarity with players

Approximately 100 NBA employees are on strike Friday in New York to show their support for the NBA and WNBA players who went on strike in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisc. 

Instead of working, the employees will spend their day calling elected officials. The employees sent an official statement to NBA commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum explaining the thinking behind their decision.

"We believe the NBA, its leadership, and the Board of Governors unequivocally have the leverage to do more to directly address and combat police brutality and systemic racism in this country," the statement read.

On Wednesday, all three scheduled playoff games were postponed after the Bucks refused to take the court against the Orlando Magic to protest the Blake shooting. That night, the players held a meeting to discuss the possibility of ending the season, with the Lakers and Clippers both voting to end the season and walking out of the meeting. 

According to Doc Rivers, Clippers' players legitimately thought the season was "over" but eventually, players were able to get on the same page, and yesterday, players voted to resume the season. But even with the strike coming to an end, this massive show of solidarity demonstrates just how committed athletes are to using their platform to promote social justice. 

And with about 100 employees standing with the players, it seems to suggest that many who are working in the league are in support of what players are doing.