In a breaking news episode, Sara, Neil and FiveThirtyEight senior sports writer Chris Herring reflect on the wild events that have rocked the sports world in the past 24 hours and contextualize the players’ strike that began with the NBA and spread to the WNBA, MLB and MLS, among other leagues. This is a historic moment of collective action — and grief — in American sports; it shows both how far athletes have come in their ability to organize protests and how little has changed.
What we’re looking at today:
- Why a strike for racial justice started with the Milwaukee Bucks and the NBA.
- The NBA needs collective bereavement.
- Kenny Smith walks off “Inside the NBA” in solidarity with players.