NBA players hope the stance taken on Thursday (NZ time) will help force change well beyond the basketball court.
All six teams boycotted their respective playoff matches, not only in protest of continued racial injustice, but because they seek a much wider impact away from the world of sport.
As the NBA's bubble lay barren, the emptiness represented more than just boycotted playoff games.
The message of racial injustice has been at the centre of the playoffs and after Jacob Blake was shot seven times by police, Thursday's walkout will hopefully bring transformation - starting with November's US election.
"If you think for one second that this is not going to be political or have political tentacles attached to it, then you are living under a rock," says ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith
That sentiment was echoed by the Women's NBA, which took the same stance in boycotting their matches, urging action from all Americans.
Thursday's action may just be the beginning. One of New Zealand's top basketballers hopes the power of the athlete's voice will get louder.
"There's a lot more that needs to be done than speaking and rioting and boycotting and stuff like that, I think," says NZ Breakers star Corey Webster. "It's going to put pressure on these people to try and make these changes."
NBA stars Sterling Brown and George Hill led the response from the Bucks, after initiating the boycott.
It was short and it was direct.
"We are calling for justice for Jacob Blake and we demand the officers responsible be held accountable," says veteran Hill.
The 'Black Lives Matter' slogan remains etched on the court, but Thursday's boycott pushed the message beyond than just words.
