NBA star Kyrie Irving wears “Free Palestine” wristband in Mavericks Win Over Pacers
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NBA star and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving was photographed wearing a “Free Palestine” wristband during Friday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The image shows the nine-time All-Star in his navy blue No. 11 jersey holding a basketball and looking upward, with the band visible on his wrist amid a sea of yellow-clad Pacers fans.
Irving scored a game-high 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including five three-pointers, in the Mavericks’ 121-105 victory—their first win of the 2026-27 season under new coach Dusty May.
He played nearly 25 minutes on a minutes restriction as he continues his return from a torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire previous season.
Cooper Flagg left early with a shoulder injury, but Irving’s performance helped Dallas pull away early.
The wristband continues Irving’s longstanding public support for the Palestinian cause.
He has previously worn “Free Palestine” bracelets at media day, a keffiyeh at press conferences and NBA Finals appearances, a necklace depicting the map of ‘Israel’ in Palestinian flag colors, and “PRESS” shirts honoring journalists killed in Gaza.
Just days earlier, after the Mavericks’ season-opening loss to the Houston Rockets, Irving addressed his offer to pay Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s nearly $12,000 NFL fine.
Al-Shaair had written the name of Hind Rajab—a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza in January 2024—on his eye black.
“He’s a friend of mine,” Irving said.
“He’s a brother that I consider in this revolution that a lot of this generation is building. It’s a selfless act when you can show up for others that don’t necessarily have a voice for themselves.”
Irving elaborated on the broader principle: “There are a lot of innocent people who have lost their lives, children especially. Us here in America, we get the luxury of going to bed at night in our nice bedrooms, things paid for, but when our tax dollars are going towards other things that we don’t necessarily agree with, then you have to stand up.”
He has previously stated, “Kids or innocent people dying, I really care. That’s in my heart. I can’t not see it… It’s OK to care about humanity.”
