On Tuesday night, it was reported that the Dallas Mavericks had decided to stop playing the national anthem before home games this season, a choice led by owner Mark Cuban. And, as you'd expect, such a significant change from what has been tradition for years and years would lead to both positive and negative opinions of the decision.
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One prominent figure who supported the move was New Orleans Pelicans head coach and longtime NBA fixture Stan Van Gundy. The former Heat, Magic and Pistons head coach and two-time All-Star Game head coach expressed his thoughts on Twitter.
"This should happen everywhere," Van Gundy wrote. "If you think the anthem needs to be played before sporting events, then play it before every movie, concert, church service and the start of every work day at every business. What good reason is there to play the anthem before a game?"
This echoes Cuban's earlier sentiment that he shared on Twitter in July of 2020, one which led to a back-and-forth with Republican senator Ted Cruz.
"The National Anthem Police in this country are out of control. If you want to complain, complain to your boss and ask why they don't play the National Anthem every day before you start work," Cuban tweeted (via ESPN).
Van Gundy wasn't alone in his applause of Cuban's direction to his organization. A poll, albeit one with a small sample size, showed that the majority voted against the playing of the anthem at all events in the wake of several social justice movements in the summer of 2020.
Several other Twitter users also agreed with Cuban's decision.
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