After President Donald Trump made controversial comments about professional athletes protesting during the national anthem, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he wants his players to be able to discuss how they feel about these issues.
Cuban appeared on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Monday morning, where he said he wants there to be an open discussion with the team and within the community.
"If they would want to have, as a team, their feelings aired on our JumboTron before a game rather than trying to make a point through a secondary action, whether it's taking knees, joining arms, whatever it may be, let's just say what's on our mind and just be clear to fans what we think," Cuban said, "and if we can take it from there and start a discussion in our community, then that's a good thing."
Cuban has been an outspoken critic of Trump since he announced his presidential candidacy. According to Cuban, Trump needs to be able to listen and take the criticism without immediately going on the defensive.
"If he's going to dish it out, he's got to be able to take it," Cuban said. "I don't expect him to apologize, but if this is the new presidency, where our president wants to mix it up, and obviously he does, whether it's North Korea — God help us — or sports or me or public figures or anybody, then this is the new reality we live in, and that makes him fair game."
