“I recognize that this is a very emotional issue on both sides of the equation in America right now,” Silver said during a press conference in December, “and I think it calls for real engagement rather than rule enforcement. The outspoken Mavericks owner told ESPN last July of the potential for his team’s players to kneel during the anthem: “If they were taking a knee, and they were being respectful, I’d be proud of them” and that he hoped he would “join them.” He later tweeted, in response to what he called “The National Anthem Police,” that if critics of the nonviolent protest of systemic racism in the United States took issue, then they could “complain to your boss and ask why they don’t play the National Anthem every day before you start work.” Mark Cuban AP Photo/Ron JenkinsĪlthough NBA rules require players to stand during the playing of the anthem, commissioner Adam Silver has opted to overlook the rule in view of supporting his players’ decisions to express themselves. The Dallas Mavericks will resume playing the National Anthem prior to home games having previously not played it in 11 regular season games at American Airlines Center. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Tuesday he decided before the season not to have the national anthem played before the team's home games. Monday marked the first game in which the Mavericks allowed a limited number of fans into their arena.Ĭuban has been vocal about his support for those who wish to kneel during the playing of the national anthem, the practice which former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began in 2016 and which became a lightning rod for partisan political debate. The move went unnoticed through the first 13 combined preseason and regular-season games at American Airlines Center because the Mavericks did not publicize it, either within the organization or through an announcement to media. Mark Cuban told The Athletic it was his decision to eliminate the tradition of playing the anthem before games. Haven’t heard about any national anthem protests at Mavericks games? There’s a good reason for that: Dallas isn’t and won’t be playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” anymore. Kevin Durant makes a statement in first game against Kyrie Luka Doncic and Devin Booker go nose-to-nose in wild end-of-game scene Earlier that same day, the team had confirmed to CNN that they had. NBA superstar exits early with thigh injury: ‘I could barely run’ The Dallas Mavericks played the US national anthem before the team’s game on Wednesday for the first time this season. Owner Mark Cuban said he consulted with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before making. Kyrie Irving goes off on fans, media in postgame Twitch diatribe The Dallas Mavericks will no longer play the national anthem before games at the American Airlines Center.
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