Mark Cuban: Mavericks To Play A 'Tribute To The Flag' And The National Anthem Before Game Wednesday

DALLAS, TX — Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban said the team will play a "tribute to the flag" before Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. In an interview with NBCDFW, Cuban said the team recognizes the flag as an important symbol in the U.S. and for the team. To date, no player from the Mavericks has knelt during the national anthem.

Still, Cuban expressed his support for players exercising their First Amendment rights to kneel in protest should they choose to. He said he sees disagreement as an important part of what makes the U.S. special.

"We’re gonna make a proactive effort to recognize that it’s an important symbol for this country, but what we also recognize is that what it stands for is the right for people to disagree and to stand up for your beliefs," Cuban told reporters for NBCDFW. "This country was built on people disagreeing."

A national dialogue about patriotism and free speech began in April 2016 when Colin Kaepernick first knelt during the singing of the national anthem before a 49ers preseason game. Since then, President Donald Trump has made vocal, anti-protester comments on Twitter.

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Cuban, a descendent of United States veterans, said he thinks allowing players to use their platforms to make political statements should be protected.
"When an athlete decides to make a point and use the anthem as an opportunity to do that, that’s their choice," Cuban told reporters. "My dad was in the Navy, my uncle in the Air Force, and they were always very clear to me growing up that what makes this county special is that we respect the people that disagree with us. We don’t tell people how to think."

Watch the full interview with NBCDFW here.

Image via Associated Press