After spike in attacks, NBA teams take social media stances against antisemitism

JTA — Several NBA teams posted messages over the weekend condemning the spike in antisemitic attacks across the US in the wake of the recent Israel-Gaza hostilities.

“We are in the midst of a devastating and appalling rise of antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community in our country,” the Milwaukee Bucks wrote Sunday on their official Facebook account. “These hateful and dangerous acts MUST stop and be condemned.”

The team is partially owned by the Moroccan-Jewish billionaire Marc Lasry and its president of operations, Peter Feigin, is also Jewish. Lasry’s 33-year-old son, Alex, is senior vice president of the team, but he has taken a leave of absence to run as a Democrat for a Senate seat in Wisconsin.

On Saturday, the Miami Heat posted a similar message on their account.

“Enough with the hate. Hate speech and violence against Jews & cowardly antisemitic acts committed against our Jewish friends and neighbors here in South Florida have got to stop,” the team said.

An Israeli-American businessman, Micky Arison, owns the Heat. The team recently released center Meyers Leonard, who was caught using an antisemitic slur on a live video game platform.

The Dallas Mavericks, owned by Jewish billionaire and TV star Mark Cuban, posted a short message on the topic on Saturday to its Twitter feed.

“We stand against anti-Semitism, prejudice, discrimination and racism of any kind,” the team’s account posted.

All three teams are currently competing in the NBA playoffs.