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Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to drop the national anthem before home games drew mixed reactions from the league’s NBA coaches on Wednesday.
After the franchise’s initial decision to stop playing the anthem, Cuban and the Mavericks found the support of New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy.
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“It should happen everywhere. If you think the anthem should be played before sporting events, play it before every movie, concert, church service and the start of every working day in every company,” he said. tweeted. “What good reason is there to play the anthem before a game?”
Amid the frenzy over the decision, the NBA on Wednesday released a statement requiring teams to play “The Star-Spangled Banner” in their pre-game festivities to follow league politics. Cuban and Mavericks both issued statements supporting the decision to do so.
Cuban told ESPN ahead of the Dallas game on Wednesday night that he was not trying to “cancel” the anthem.
“We always talk to our community. It’s something [Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall] represents and is highly emphasized and has become a central part of who we are at the Dallas Mavericks, ”Cuban said on“ The Jump ”.
“Listening to the community, there were quite a few people who expressed their concerns, really their fears that the national anthem does not fully represent them, that their voices will not be heard,” he continued.
“So we had a lot of conversations about whether or not we should play the anthem. And so during the first pre-season game, we decided not to play it and see what the answer was, knowing that we were going to continue. We didn’t make the decision to never play the national anthem back then – that was not the case at all. We did not cancel the national anthem. Our flag was still flying proudly on the wall at the American Airlines Center and everyone had a chance to talk to him and pray or greet him or whatever their feelings.
MAVS ‘MARK CUBAN INSISTS’ WE DID NOT CANCEL THE NATIONAL ANTHEM ‘
“There was never a final decision not to play the anthem,” Cuban added.
The Mavericks played a pre-recorded anthem ahead of their game. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle spoke about the anthem after the game.
“It’s a logical progression,” Carlisle said of the debate over the anthem reading, via the team’s website. “And I think something like that, every time you have a result with something like that, you have to accept it.”
“This is an opportunity for people to see things differently,” he added. “And whether you agree or not, we all have to agree that as Americans we support the right to choose how we express ourselves. And that’s another fundamental thing that’s very important with that.”
Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams said in his experience he enjoyed the song before the game.
“I also experienced the World Cup and Olympics anthem, which was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done, hearing our anthem in a foreign country before competing or at the end when you win. “Williams said.” So for me, as much as I can appreciate both sides of the coin, this holds a special place in my heart because of what I’ve been through. “
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The Suns have played the anthem in every home game this season despite the lack of fans.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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