The NBA responded to Mark Cuban‘s decision not to play the national anthem before Dallas Mavericks home games with a statement directing all teams to play the anthem.
“With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy,” NBA chief communications officer Mike Bass said in the statement.
ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski wrote: “Once fans were increasingly back in arenas, including in Dallas, there was little chance (NBA commissioner) Adam Silver would let Mavs continue without playing anthem.” Wojnarowski added that Silver may be open to conversation, but “wasn’t letting one team make that decision” on whether the anthem should be played.
The NHL’s Dallas Stars, who share American Airlines Center with the Mavericks, also released a statement indicating they fully intend to play the anthem. “We are proud to represent our state and country,” the statement read.
The Mavericks will also comply and intend to play the anthem prior to their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, as relayed by Marc Stein of the New York Times.
A statement from Cuban, in part, read as follows: “The hope is that those who feel passionate about the anthem being played will be just as passionate in listening to those who do not feel it represents them.”
