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DALLAS (AP) – Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said on Tuesday he has decided before this 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 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. The Athletic first reported that Dallas had dropped the anthem.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, “In the unique circumstances of this season, teams are allowed to conduct their pre-game operations as they see fit.
Cuban was outspoken against criticism from kneeling NBA players and coaches on “The Star-Spangled Banner” when the 2019-20 season resumed in the Florida bubble last summer.
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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