"So happy he's not backing down" - Fans hail Kyrie Irving as Mavs star dons 'Palestine' chain

NBA fans hailed Kyrie Irving ahead of their Emirates NBA Cup game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. Irving was speaking to reporters when fans spotted him wearing a chain with the Palestine flag in the shape of Israel's land mass.

The Dallas Mavericks star hasn't been afraid to show his support for Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the West Bank since October 2023. He has worn the chain since last season and also wore a keffiyeh during the NBA Finals.

Irving has exercised his freedom of speech over the past few years even though it got him in trouble with the NBA. He wasn't allowed to play after declining to take the COVID-19 vaccine and also got suspended for promoting an anti-Semitic film on Instagram in 2022.

NBA fans praised Kyrie Irving for not supporting Palestine amid Israel's war against Hamas in the West Bank. The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been ongoing since 1948, with the current war being the fifth armed battle between them since 2008.

"Front and center still - I'm so so happy he’s not backing down on it," a fan wrote.

"He has a great heart. It's what I like most about him besides basketball," a fan claimed.

"This is why I love Kyrie, he’s not afraid to speak against evil," another fan remarked.

Another fact that should be pointed out is the Adelson Family, the owners of the Dallas Mavericks, are supporters of Israel. Miriam Adelson is a member of the American Jewish community and is friends with the Israel Defense Forces, as per USA Today.

"So real and genuine ..a human first and then a great basketball player," a fan responded.

"Turned into my favorite player over the last couple of years. ... he don't give a f*ck long as he can send his message out," one fan opined.

"Even as a Celtics fan mad respect to him for wearing a Palestine necklace and that his team owner pays millions of dollars to continue the genocide," another fan commented.

As part of his reinstatement during the 2022-23 NBA season, Kyrie Irving apologized to the Jewish community for promoting an anti-Semitic film. He also met Jewish leaders before returning to the Brooklyn Nets at the time.

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Mark Cuban comments on Kyrie Irving and Israel

Mark Cuban comments on Kyrie Irving and Israel. (Photo: IMAGN)

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban, who's Jewish, told reporters ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals in June that Kyrie Irving loves Israel. Cuban explained that Irving is supporting Palestine and not the terrorist group Hamas.

"Kyrie loves Israel," Mark Cuban said, according to BasketNews. "I have never met a person with so much love inside as he does. There is nothing bad in him, and he has no bad intentions.

"He wants to support everyone, Israelis and any other group of people. He seeks peace. ... I spoke with Kyrie about the situation, about Hamas, and I told him that terrorism is terrorism."

Irving has stayed away from controversies since arriving in Dallas last year. He helped the Mavs make their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011.