A group of rabbis attending the Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks game on Monday were asked to put away their pro-Jewish signs after an interaction with NBA star Kyrie Irving, who reportedly complained to security about the signs.
Key Takeaway
The Utah Jazz requested the removal of pro-Jewish signs displayed by rabbis at the game after an interaction with Kyrie Irving, citing a policy against distracting signage near the court.
Rabbis’ Intentions
Rabbi Avremi Zippel, a devoted Jazz fan, along with three other rabbis, had intentionally secured courtside seats with the purpose of sending a message to Irving following his antisemitism controversy in October 2022.
Interaction with Kyrie Irving
During the first quarter of the game, the rabbis displayed signs that read “I’m a Jew and I’m Proud,” to which Irving reportedly responded positively at first, acknowledging his own Jewish identity. However, he later expressed discomfort with the signs being present at the game.
Security Intervention
Following Irving’s reaction, security approached the rabbis and instructed them to refrain from displaying the signs, citing a policy against holding up posters in the front row. Rabbi Zippel claims that a staff member later informed them that the request was made due to Irving’s complaint.
Team’s Response
Although the signs were not intended as a political statement and did not reference the conflict in Israel, the Jazz stated that the display of the signs violated their Code of Conduct. The team emphasized that any sign causing distraction or player interaction would be subject to removal as part of their standard security protocol.
Disputed Explanation
Rabbi Zippel expressed skepticism regarding the Jazz’s explanation, suggesting that the team invoked their policy in an attempt to downplay the incident. He remains unconvinced by the team’s assertion that the content of the signs was not the issue.
Previous Controversies
This is not the first instance of Kyrie Irving facing criticism from fans. In the past, fans have protested his comments by wearing “Fight Antisemitism” shirts during games, as a form of silent demonstration against his behavior. Neither Irving nor the Mavericks have addressed the recent incident at the game.
