Mark Cuban Has Directed The Dallas Mavericks To Stop Playing The National Anthem Before Home Games

TSR Sports activities: The Dallas Mavericks have stopped enjoying the nationwide anthem earlier than their residence video games on the route of the workforce’s proprietor, Mark Cuban.

ESPN reviews the Mavericks don’t plan to proceed the custom to play the nationwide anthem earlier than video games sooner or later.

In keeping with ESPN, Cuban, who declined additional remark, made the choice after consulting with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. The Mavericks didn’t formally announce the change in coverage, however the nationwide anthem has not been performed earlier than any of their 13 preseason and regular-season video games on the American Airways Heart this season.

The NBA’s rulebook requires gamers to face in the course of the nationwide anthem, however Silver has declined to implement that rule, particularly contemplating kneeling in the course of the anthem turned a preferred method to protest social injustice lately. 

 The overwhelming majority of NBA gamers and plenty of of their coaches kneeled in the course of the nationwide anthem in the course of the NBA’s restart final summer season in Orlando, Florida. The league additionally integrated messaging supporting the Black Lives Matter motion and different social justice causes within the courtroom design and different methods.

“I acknowledge that it is a very emotional subject on either side of the equation in America proper now, and I feel it requires actual engagement quite than rule enforcement,” Silver mentioned throughout a information convention in December.

Cuban has vocally been supportive of the gamers’ proper to protest.

“Whether or not it’s holding their arm up within the air, whether or not it’s taking a knee, no matter it’s, I don’t suppose this is a matter of respect or disrespect to the flag or to the anthem or to our nation,” Cuban mentioned. “I feel that is extra a mirrored image of our gamers’ dedication to this nation and the truth that it’s so vital to them that they’re keen to say what’s of their coronary heart and do what they suppose is true.”

“I’ll defer to [Silver] on any closing judgments and [players’ union executive director] Michele Roberts. However the actuality is, my hope is we’ll let the gamers do precisely what they suppose is the appropriate factor to do,” Cuban mentioned.

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