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National Anthem Booed During NBA Game on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew McCarty | Last updated Feb 2, 2025 10:28 PM ET

The NBA has delivered quite a bit of drama over the past 24 hours from the trade between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers for Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis to another blockbuster deal that sent De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs.

It was another moment, though, that is stealing the headlines on Sunday night. During a showdown between the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors, 15-year-old Kyra Daniel was booed while attempting to sing the national anthem.

Canadian fans rained down boos just a day after President Donald Trump placed 25% tariffs on the country.

Boos ringing out during the US national anthem here ahead of the Clippers-Raptors game pic.twitter.com/IPIDe93a0C
— Kayla Grey (@Kayla_Grey) February 2, 2025

After the game Raptors forward Garrett Temple admitted it would have been difficult not to notice.

“Yeah, of course I noticed it. The reaction (was), ‘Wow.’ And then you just think about why they’re booing. A lot of things bigger than basketball going on in the world right now," he told reporters. "At the end of the day, we play in an arena that’s in Canada and they’re Canadian citizens, so they have a certain feeling about the trade situation going on, the tariffs. The people that booed let their thoughts be known.”

Fellow big man Kelly Olynyk, who grew up in Toronto, felt for Daniel who took the brunt of the fans' jeers during her rendition of the anthem.

“Obviously it has an impact on a lot of people in this country and in this stadium,” he said. “It’s their opinion. I felt bad for the girl singing but they cheered her at the end, so I was happy for that, … It’s the state of the world right now.”

As for the actual game, Raptors fans went home happy with a 115-108 win.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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