Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban said that the team's decision not to stay at Donald Trump-branded hotels in N.Y. and Chicago was "made before the presidential election," according to the AP. Cuban, who was critical of Trump during the campaign, said the decision was "made months ago." Grizzlies coach David Fizdale, whose team also is not staying in Trump-branded hotels, said, "It had nothing to do with the election. We made those decisions months ago. We didn't stay in Trump hotels when I was in Miami either, so when I came here I wanted to stay in places I was familiar with. It had nothing to do with him." Bucks F Jabari Parker said that he "supports the team's decision not to stay in Trump properties." He said, "It targets most of the guys on the team, the controversy that Donald Trump stands for" (AP, 11/16). A Hornets spokesperson yesterday said that the team has "stayed at Trump-brand hotels 'in the past at various times' but is not scheduled to do so in the future" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/16).
SVG OK WITH DECISION: Pistons coach & President of Basketball Operations Stan Van Gundy yesterday said that he agrees with teams "deciding to no longer stay in Trump-owned properties." He added that the Pistons, "to his knowledge, have not stayed at nor had any plans to stay at Trump hotels on the road anyway" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/17). Van Gundy, who last week was very outspoken about the election results, said, "Every team's got to take a look at that. I think teams are getting tuned in politically and everything else. Give the players a great deal of credit. I've been really proud of our own players but players throughout the league and that they're attuned to what's going on and they're going to stand up for their values" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/17).
