Sen. Ted Cruz had a heated Twitter exchange with NBA team owner Mark Cuban over what Cruz called the league’s “left-wing” politics.
“I love @HoustonRockets & have rooted for them my entire life. I happily cheer for the Spurs & Mavericks against any non-TX team,” the Texas Republican tweeted.
“But @mcuban the NBA is engaged in a concerted effort to (1) insult their fans & (2) turn every game into a left-wing political lecture. That’s dumb,” Cruz added.
I love @HoustonRockets & have rooted for them my entire life. I happily cheer for the Spurs & Mavericks against any non-TX team.
But @mcuban the NBA is engaged in a concerted effort to (1) insult their fans & (2) turn every game into a left-wing political lecture. That’s dumb. https://t.co/uKSgvPhEcq
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 6, 2020
Cuban had taken issue with Cruz posting about the NBA’s poor television ratings during this year’s championships.
“Not surprising. Personally speaking, this is the first time in years that I haven’t watched a single game in the NBA Finals. #GoWokeGoBroke,” Cruz first tweeted, referring to the low ratings.
Not surprising. Personally speaking, this is the first time in years that I haven’t watched a single game in the NBA Finals. #GoWokeGoBroke https://t.co/ygIp60EKHi
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 6, 2020
“A US Senator with 3 @NBA teams in his state, employing thousands of people and he is rooting for their businesses to do poorly,” Cuban responded. “This is who you are @tedcruz . Every minute of your life, this is exactly who you are.”
A US Senator with 3 @NBA teams in his state, employing thousands of people and he is rooting for their businesses to do poorly. This is who you are @tedcruz . Every minute of your life, this is exactly who you are. https://t.co/rnCV3qJTfQ
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) October 6, 2020
Cruz has long proclaimed his Rockets fandom and has been photographed attending games as recently as 2018.
However, the NBA’s recent embrace of social justice causes in the wake of George Floyd’s death in May appears to have caused headaches for the league.
NBA Finals ratings have continued to sink, with Sunday’s Game 3 garnering only 4.395 million viewers, a record low for an NBA Finals game.
“A ship doesn’t sink for one reason, but undoubtedly, politics sit atop the historical tank,” OutKick reported of the ratings decline. “After nearly two decades of reinventing the NBA discussion, LeBron is now a detriment to the league’s brand.”
OutKick added, “The NBA’s new self-inflicted identity is written in ink. Millions of turned-off Americans associate the NBA with radical politics catered to only a minimal number of sports fans.”
