Orlando (United States) (AFP)

The NBA and the Players Union (NBPA) announced on Friday that play-off matches would resume on Saturday, three days after the player boycott in protest against racial injustice in the wake of the Jacob Blake affair.

"All parties have agreed to resume play-off matches on Saturday August 29," wrote the bosses of the two instances Adam Silver and Michelle Roberts, claiming to have had "a frank, passionate and productive conversation Thursday between the players, the coaches and team owners on the next steps to deepen our collective efforts and actions for social justice and racial equality. "

This hour-long telephone meeting on Thursday, also involving representatives of the players' union as well as Michael Jordan in a role of mediator with the franchise owners - himself being the only black to be so with the Charlotte Hornets - was decisive , even if the players had voted that very morning for the resumption.

The aim was to launch action plans to accentuate the fight against racism and to urge franchise owners in particular "to be proactive and not reactive", according to The Athletic, citing players.

Three main axes were detailed in the press release from the NBA and NBPA.

The NBA and its players will "immediately create a coalition for social justice, which will focus in particular on improving access to the vote and advocating for meaningful reform of the police and criminal justice".

"The owners of franchises, owners of their room will work with local election officials to convert it into a polling place for the next elections, in particular for communities vulnerable to Covid-19", continues the text.

Finally, "the league will work with players and partners to create and include commercials during each play-off match dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections."

On Wednesday, affected by the fate of Blake who was shot several times in the back during his arrest in Kenosha, not far from Milwaukee, their city of residence, the Bucks players boycotted the game against the Magic of Orlando. This forced the NBA to postpone it, as well as Houston-Oklahoma City, Lakers-Portland, also scheduled for that day, and Clippers-Dallas, Denver-Utah and Toronto-Boston scheduled for Thursday.

It is in this order a priori that the matches will resume, the three of Wednesday Saturday, and those of Thursday, Sunday.

© 2020 AFP