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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said on Tuesday he decided before the season not to play the national anthem before the team’s home games.
The Mavericks played their first 10 home games of the regular season at the American Airlines Center without supporters. The club had fans for the first time in Monday’s 127-122 win over Minnesota. Dallas allows 1,500 vaccinated essential workers to attend games for free.
Cuban did not elaborate on his decision not to play the anthem, saying no one noticed it. Athletic were the first to report that Dallas had dropped the anthem.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said: “Under the unique circumstances of this season, teams are allowed to conduct their pre-game operations as they see fit.”
Cuban was outspoken against criticism of NBA players and kneeling coaches during “The Star-Spangled Banner” when the 2019-20 season resumed in the Florida bubble last summer.
According to The Athletic, “Cuban said in July that he would kneel with the players during the anthem. He also tweeted:” The police of the national anthem in this country are out of control. If you want to complain, complain to your boss and ask them why they don’t play the national anthem every day before they start working. ‘”
The pre-game national anthem is a staple of American sports at the professional and college level, but it is much less common at professional sporting events in other countries.
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