Mavs' Kyrie Irving Denies Asking Jazz to Remove Rabbi's Sign From Courtside

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving told Tony Jones, Tim Cato and Tess DeMeyer of The Athletic that he did not request the removal of an "I'm a Jew and I'm proud" sign displayed courtside by rabbi Avremi Zippel during Monday's game in Utah between the Jazz and Mavs.

"I wish him and his family well," Irving said. "No disrespect going his way. That's not my MO."

Zippel brought the sign in protest of Irving's decision to post the link of an antisemitic film on social media in 2022 while with the Brooklyn Nets, a decision that ultimately earned him an eight-game suspension and the end of his business relationship with Nike after he initially didn't apologize for the actions.

"Nice, I'm Jewish too," Irving reportedly said after he saw the sign during a first quarter exchange, per Zippel.

"And I said, 'Cool. Happy New Year, buddy,'" Zippel continued. "He inbounded the ball, and as he dribbled up the court, he called over his shoulder, 'Don't gotta bring a sign like that to a game.'"

Not long after, Zippel said he was asked by Jazz officials to either change seats or put his sign away. Mavericks security reportedly reached out to Jazz officials regarding the sign, per The Athletic's report.

Zippel said he reviewed the Jazz's policy regarding signage in arenas before the game but received confusing messaging about the sign at the venue itself.

"I think that it's a limitless rule, and that's kind of been the most frustrating part beyond the interaction with Kyrie and the fact that a sign like that bothers him," he told The Athletic. "The confusion from the organization has been, I think, the most disappointing part."