Grizzlies, others within the NBA communicate out after Tyre Nichols’ dying in Memphis: ‘It’s devastating’
The Memphis Grizzlies took the courtroom on the Goal Heart shortly after officers launched footage of Tyre Nichols on Friday evening.
Nichols’ arrest and dying hung over your complete sport, and was the very first thing coach Taylor Jenkins and the Grizzlies introduced up after their 111-100 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I feel the phrase that stands out about our group and our metropolis is, ‘collectively.’ We discuss that on a regular basis,” Jenkins stated after the sport, by way of Bally Sports activities. “There’s method more durable issues occurring within the metropolis versus what’s occurring with our basketball proper now. I’m pleased with our guys going on the market. As I stated earlier than the sport, we’re taking part in for our metropolis that’s going by so much proper now. It’s onerous, however our guys went on the market and competed … We will’t wait to get again residence. It’s time to get again residence to embrace our households, to embrace our group, play in entrance of our followers to symbolize our metropolis with lots of delight.”
Nichols was pulled over by police late on Jan. 7 in Memphis, and died three days later. He was 29.
5 Memphis cops had been then fired final week for his or her roles within the incident. These officers, who’re all Black, had been arrested and charged with homicide on Thursday. The town launched footage of the incident on Friday evening, which confirmed the officers kicking, punching and beating Nichols with a baton.
“He was a human piñata for these cops,” a lawyer for the Nichols household stated, via The New York Times. “Not solely was it violent, it was savage.”
On the video, Nichols was heard telling officers, “I am simply making an attempt to go residence.” He later repeatedly screamed out for his mother, whose home was about 100 yards away from the place officers began beating him.
The Grizzlies put out an announcement on Friday afternoon earlier than the video was launched. Their account then went largely darkish and barely tweeted concerning the sport.
“We’re distraught to search out ourselves coping with a pointless lack of life because of police brutality, and this time it was one among Memphis’ personal,” the staff stated in an announcement. “We’re considering of the Nichols household and buddies, and share the ache being felt all through our group. So, let’s help one another and respect how our fellow Memphians are coping. We place confidence in this metropolis and our energy to heal.
“To the Nichols household and buddies, we provide our deepest sympathies and condolences to your loss.”
The Grizzlies and Timberwolves held a second of silence on the Goal Heart in Minneapolis earlier than their sport began on Friday evening.
Jenkins opened his pregame media convention addressing Nichols’ dying, too.
“Our metropolis is struggling proper now,” Jenkins stated, by way of the Memphis Business Attraction’s Damichael Cole. “Our metropolis is dealing with the lack of one among our personal in Tyre Nichols. It’s devastating. There’s been so much that’s transpired during the last couple of weeks and days studying concerning the incident involving Tyre Nichols and the police, and coming to search out out that it’s one other instance of police brutality that’s taken the lifetime of one among our personal. It’s been onerous to course of. There’s lots of emotion … Our staff is unhappy and talked at size a number of instances about what’s occurred, what’s going to occur, and we’ve been on the street the entire time.
“It’s onerous to understand what our metropolis goes by proper now. We will’t wait to get again residence to place our arms round everybody in Memphis as they wrestle with the lack of life, the mindless lack of life.”
Friday’s sport was the ultimate one among their five-game street journey. The Grizzlies will host the Indiana Pacers subsequent on Saturday.
Different groups, gamers communicate out as Tyre Nichols video is launched
Loads of others in and across the league took to Twitter on Friday each earlier than and after the footage was launched, beginning with the Timberwolves.
“The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx are deeply saddened by the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols,” the 2 groups stated in a joint assertion. “We lengthen our ideas and heartfelt sympathies to Tyre’s household, buddies, family members, the Memphis group and communities throughout the nation throughout this tough time.”
The NBA, different groups, each the NBPA and WNBA and even LeBron James joined in, too.