Spike Lee, Kyrie Irving Wear Pro-Palestinian Attire at NBA All-Star Game

At the 2026 NBA All-Star Game held on February 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, filmmaker Spike Lee and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving drew widespread attention for their attire, which highlighted pro-Palestinian themes amid a historic appearance by Israeli-born forward Deni Avdija, the first from his country to participate in the event.

Avdija, playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, competed on the World All-Stars team in the league's new format pitting international players against those from the United States on Team Stars and Team Stripes. He wore the Israeli flag on the back of his jersey, symbolizing national pride. After the game, Avdija reflected on the moment, stating, "I feel like when I come to play, I come with the entire nation, and it's fun to show that it's possible, even for a small country like us," according to reports from the Times of Israel.

Lee, a courtside spectator known for his longtime connection to basketball and New York Knicks fandom, arrived wearing a sweater vest patterned like a keffiyeh, a checkered scarf associated with Palestinian solidarity, and carrying a bag adorned with Palestinian flags. The outfit sparked immediate...