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Former President Obama hailed the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday for "standing up for what they believe in" and boycotting their NBA playoff game  over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Why it matters: Obama's statement came as games were postponed in the NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS as other teams followed the Bucks' lead and protested the shooting of Blake, 29, who has been left paralyzed from the waist down. 

Go deeper: Milwaukee Bucks issue statement on Jacob Blake boycott

Obama praises Bucks for "standing up for what they believe in" with boycott

"It's going to take all institutions to stand up for our values," he said.

 In this screenshot from the DNCC’s livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, former U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the virtual convention on August 19

Former President Obama addresses the virtual Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19. Photo: DNCC via Getty Images

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<p>Former President Obama hailed the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday for &quot;standing up for what they believe in&quot; and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="boycotting their NBA playoff game" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/milwaukee-bucks-boycott-jacob-blake-d30c6c03-f7f0-4cb5-ade4-0358f7c6e261.html" data-vars-content-id="8a54cc74-df2e-4f45-adb5-2a41f6cc781c" data-vars-headline="Obama praises Bucks for &quot;standing up for what they believe in&quot; with boycott" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/milwaukee-bucks-boycott-jacob-blake-d30c6c03-f7f0-4cb5-ade4-0358f7c6e261.html" target="_self">boycotting their NBA playoff game</a>  over the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="police shooting of Jacob Blake" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/jacob-blake-mother-police-violence-kenosha-b3d6d8a1-a81e-4961-bf97-74215ac0f8a2.html" data-vars-content-id="8a54cc74-df2e-4f45-adb5-2a41f6cc781c" data-vars-headline="Obama praises Bucks for &quot;standing up for what they believe in&quot; with boycott" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/jacob-blake-mother-police-violence-kenosha-b3d6d8a1-a81e-4961-bf97-74215ac0f8a2.html" target="_self">police shooting of Jacob Blake</a>, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Obama&#x27;s statement came as games were postponed in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/nba-wnba-mlb-mls-defer-games-jacob-blake-protest-photos-f116e53a-af87-44b3-8e8e-deb6624d0b3e.html" data-vars-content-id="8a54cc74-df2e-4f45-adb5-2a41f6cc781c" data-vars-headline="Obama praises Bucks for &quot;standing up for what they believe in&quot; with boycott" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/nba-wnba-mlb-mls-defer-games-jacob-blake-protest-photos-f116e53a-af87-44b3-8e8e-deb6624d0b3e.html" target="_self">NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS</a> as other teams followed the Bucks&#x27; lead and protested the shooting of Blake, 29, who has been left paralyzed from the waist down. </p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1298786988833857537"></a></blockquote><div style="display:none"></div></div><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Milwaukee Bucks issue statement on Jacob Blake boycott" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/milwaukee-bucks-jacob-blake-statement-7038d923-085e-4e5f-8689-143671712ff3.html" data-vars-content-id="8a54cc74-df2e-4f45-adb5-2a41f6cc781c" data-vars-headline="Obama praises Bucks for &quot;standing up for what they believe in&quot; with boycott" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/milwaukee-bucks-jacob-blake-statement-7038d923-085e-4e5f-8689-143671712ff3.html" target="_self">Milwaukee Bucks issue statement on Jacob Blake boycott</a></p><span data-ad-status="NO_AD_LENGTH" data-ad-type="midStoryAd"></span>

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.