Right now is obviously not the right time. But Mark Cuban, of Jewish faithexpresses a wish for the future: that his Mavs have the opportunity to play in Israel.
“ We would really like to bring the Mavs to a friendly match against Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel. It will be difficult to implement this summer due to the situation, but in the future it would be great “, let go of the one who still leads the team sportingly, while the new owner of the Texan club, Miriam Adelson, is Israeli-American. And one of his sons, Matan, bought Hapoel Jerusalem last year…
Last year, we had already mentioned a Nets preseason match in Tel Aviv but the events of recent months make this type of project quite unrealistic. It is indeed difficult to imagine the NBA returning to Israel in the short term, when it has not set foot there since 1984, when the Phoenix Suns and the New Jersey Nets played two games each in Tel Aviv, against the 'Hapoel and Maccabi. It should also be remembered that the first match of an NBA franchise against a club outside the league took place in Israel. In 1978, the Washington Bullets, reigning champions, lost (98-97) against Maccabi Tel Aviv, in Tel Aviv.
But beyond the security issue, such a meeting would have a strong symbolic value for the Mavericks, in the event that Kyrie Irving was on the trip.
We recall that the Mavs guard was suspended two years ago for promoting a film with anti-Semitic tropes. “ Kyrie loves Israel. I have never met a person with as much love in them as him. There is nothing bad in him, he has no bad intentions », Already defuses Mark Cuban.
He adds, on the philosophy of his player: “ He wants to support everyone, Israelis and any other group of people. He seeks peace. » Mark Cuban also assures that he was able to get the idea by discussing this hot topic with the person concerned, who has been sensitive to the Israeli-Palestinian question for years.
