Mark Cuban Says Dallas Mavericks to Resume Playing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' After NBA Policy Order

By Joshua Summers First Posted: Feb 11, 2021 02:02 AM EST

Following the Announcement of N.B.A., Dallas Mavericks to Play the Star-Spangled Banner on Wednesday; Mark Cuban: We Did not Cancel the National Anthem

(Photo : Christian Petersen)
Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban reacts to players during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at PHX Arena on December 23, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona.

In every sports game worldwide, the national anthem of the respective country is being played in honor of the country and the players who represent it. Surprisingly, this was not the case for Dallas Mavericks as they have not played the national anthem in every National Basketball Association (NBA) game. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban explained everything in an interview.

According to Dallas News, the Dallas Mavericks team never played the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," during the 1980 to 1996 era. That happened when the team was under franchise co-founders Don Carter and Norm Sonju, and "God Bless America" was played before home games.

The Dallas Mavericks started playing the national anthem when majority owner Ross Perot Jr. bought the franchise in 1996. And the team continued to do so until recently.

Mark Cuban on the National Anthem

Mark Cuban told ESPN that their team has no problem playing the national anthem. He noted that the decision not to play the song recently was the product of an ongoing conversation with the community members, who felt that the tradition did not represent them at all.

In a Twitter post, Dallas Mavericks said that apart from respect the team has with people who have passion for the national anthem, they also hear the plea of those who feel the anthem does not represent them.

Mark Cuban said they decided not to play it and see the response during the team's 13 preseason and regular-season home games this season. He noted that their organization earlier discussed that the national anthem's playing would probably resume once the fans are allowed to go back to the arena. Mark Cuban said they did not make any decision to never play the national anthem then.

Many had reacted, positive and negative, after The Athletic noticed the change during Monday's game, the first played with some fans in attendance. Because of this, the NBA issued a statement directing all teams to play the national anthem.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pointed out in a New York Times report that he recognized that the issue is very emotional for both sides of America as of the moment. However, he added that the latest directive calls for real engagement more than rule enforcement.

Mark Cuban immediately said the Dallas Mavericks would comply. Thus, the national anthem was then played before Dallas Mavericks' Wednesday night game against Atlanta at the American Airlines Center.

NBA Reiterates the National Anthem Policy

NBC Sports reported that the NBA's rules have required players to stand during the anthem. However, Silver has not enforced that rule in recent years as players decided to kneel during the anthem in protests of police brutality and social injustice.

According to Sporting News, the NBA guidelines required players, coaches, and trainers to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line when the national anthem is being played. Recently, The New York Times noted that the NBA requires, once again, all the teams to play the national anthem before games.

Dallas News shared that the national anthem regulations were relaxed during the last summer of 2019-2020 when the NBA's season restarted in the Disney World Campus bubble set.

In a statement, NBA Chief Communication Officer Mike Bass said that as the teams prepare to welcome NBA fans back to the arena, all teams must play the national anthem in keeping with the longstanding league policy.

It contradicts the previous statement of NBA spokesman Tim Frank, who said that all teams were allowed "to run their pregame operations as they see fit."