Some NBA Teams Are Avoiding Trump Hotels

Some NBA Teams Are Avoiding Trump Hotels December 9, 2016

NBA-logoThree NBA teams have admitted that they will not stay in hotels in New York City and Chicago that have U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s name on them. These teams are the Milwaukie Bucks, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Dallas Mavericks. It should come as no surprise that the Dallas Mavericks are avoiding Trump hotels. Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was a formidable voice during the presidential election that spoke out strongly against Trump for president.

And it’s not just NBA teams. Some individual NBA players are refusing to book a Trump hotel. Witness the greatest basketball player on the planet–Lebron James. Throughout the presidential campaign, Lebron James, nicknamed King James, spoke out publicly on behalf of Hilary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, for president. James even did some political commercials on television about it. Lebron’s team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, do not have a policy of not staying in Trump hotels. ThuLebronJamess, two days ago, on Wednesday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers played the New York Nicks in Madison Square Garden, the premiere basketball venue on the planet. Although Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue and some players stayed in downtown Manhattan at Trump SoHo–which is not owned by Donald Trump but bears his name–Lebron James and some of his teammates purposely avoided it by staying at another Manhattan hotel.

It is pretty understandable that some NBA players are refusing to stay at Trump hotels as an indication of their objection to Donald Trump as U.S. president. The NBA consists of 74% African-American players and 23% Caucasian players. New York City real estate magnates Donald Trump and his father have a questionable record of treatment toward minorities in some of their housing projects. And during the presidential campaign, Donald Trump made derogatory remarks against Mexicans and Muslims. Plus, Trump is now choosing his cabinet by installing some people, such as Steven Bannon as his senior counselor, who are accused of being racist or white supremacist.

One wonders how far this refusal to accept Donald Trump will go in American professional sports. See my previous posts about this regarding golf by clicking on “Is Donald Trump Hurting the PGA Tour?” “Will the R&A Thump Turnberry Due to Trump?” “U.S.G.A. to Stay with Trump


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