Mark Cuban on NBA Trump protests: Its country first, basketball second

Over the past week, NBA coaches and players, notably Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr, Stan Van Gundy and Kyle Lowry, have spoken in opposition to President Trump’s executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, offering forceful takes that have often been absent from leaders and athletes in other sports.

That thoughtful opposition has been no surprise to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

“That’s who we are” in the NBA, Cuban told reporters before his team’s game Wednesday (via the Associated Press). “We’ve always tried to help those who were less fortunate. We’re community-driven. Our players take big steps in community organizations. We take big steps as a league. And of course we’re going to have fans to say ‘stay out of politics.’

“And for 16 years, I did, but we all have our own reasons, and as American citizens, we can never forget it’s country first, basketball second.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/02/02/mark-cuban-on-nba-trump-protests-its-country-first-basketball-second/?utm_term=.ee0b7a150da5&wpisrc=nl_break&wpmm=1