‘Sickened and heartbroken’: Dallas Mavericks, others react to video of Tyre Nichols

Members of the sports world spent much of Friday evening reacting after Memphis authorities released video footage of Tyre Nichols being beaten by police officers.
Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was on his way home from taking pictures of the sky on Jan. 7, when police pulled him over. He was just a few minutes from the home he shared with his mother and stepfather, when he was killed in what authorities have described as a brutal attack by five Memphis police officers, who have since been charged with second-degree murder and other offenses.
Protesters gathered in multiple cities, including Memphis, where several dozen demonstrators blocked the Interstate 55 bridge that carries traffic over the Mississippi River toward Arkansas. Semi-trucks were backed up for a distance. In Washington, dozens of protestors gathered in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House and near Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Several teams around the NBA released statements of support for Nichols’ family on Friday, as did the National Basketball Players Association.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence before their game in Minnesota, while teams like the Dallas Mavericks released statements on social media.
“We join the Memphis Grizzlies in offering our heartfelt condolences to the Nichols family and the entire Memphis community in the wake of the tragic loss of Tyre Nichols,” the Mavericks’ statement said. “While sickened and heartbroken by what we saw in the videos, the Dallas Mavericks remain committed to being a part of the solution. We will continue to work with local officials, law enforcement, and business and community leaders to take action that promotes peace, unity, and an unwavering respect for humanity.
“Memphis, we join the nation in grieving with you.”
Here is a look at what others had to say:
To our own ppl smh, that video is disturbing asl — Reggie Bullock (@ReggieBullock35) January 28, 2023
Listening to Tyre Nichols cry out for his Momma before he was fatally beaten by those Cops….Man….Horrifying. — Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 28, 2023
The Grizzlies and Timberwolves held a moment of silence before the game to honor Tyre Nichols 🙏
Nichols was killed by five Memphis police officers following a traffic stop on Jan. 7 pic.twitter.com/80n103sXLP — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 28, 2023
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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