NBA will play Ukrainian national anthem before game tip-off in historic first

Utah-based musician Gabriel Gordon will perform the anthem ahead of Wednesday night’s game in Salt Lake City

The national anthem of Ukraine will make its National Basketball Association (NBA) debut tonight in a historic first showing solidarity with the country under attack by Russia.

Utah-based musician Gabriel Gordon revealed ahead of Wednesday night’s game in Salt Lake City that he will perform the “Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy”, which translates to “State Anthem of Ukraine”.

“I am honored and privileged to perform the Ukraine National Anthem at tomorrow night’s NBA game between the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers,” tweeted Mr Gordon.

He said this will be the first time an anthem other than the United States’ “Star Spangled Banner” or Canada’s “Oh Canada” has been authorised by the NBA. Teams from both the US and Canada play in the league.

Mr Gordon said he got the offer to perform after posting a recording of himself playing the anthem late last month, which was seen by a friend who pointed him to a Utah Jazz Facebook post asking for a local violinist to appear at one of their games.

“After contacting and corresponding with Payden Adams of the Utah Jazz, I was offered the incredible opportunity to perform the State Anthem of Ukraine at the Utah Jazz game on 9 March,” he told The Independent.

“For many years, my personal mission has been to utilize music to promote peace throughout the world, and I have performed in the past to commemorate major historical events.”

Explaining his links to Ukraine, he said: “My great-grandparents met in Odessa, and my grandmother was born in Lviv. They were fleeing oppressors in Russia on their way to the United States, and they had to stop there in order to give birth to her.

He added: “My musical arrangement of their national anthem is not only dedicated to my family, but to all the innocent people of Ukraine.I am expressing solidarity with Ukraine today because I believe that what Vladimir Putin is doing is reprehensible and monstrous.

“There have been many brave and incredible answers to this unprovoked brutality and my rather modest response is to do what Leonard Bernstein implored all musicians to do: ‘Let this be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than before.’”

The NBA’s move comes after the National Hockey League (NHL) played Ukraine’s anthems before games last week.

Wednesday’s tribute to Ukraine comes almost two weeks after the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets took part in a moment’s silence for Ukraine on 24 February, within hours of Russia’s military invasion.

Teams across the league have also showed signs of support for Ukraine with flags and badges, while NBA fans have since appeared at games holding signs showing solidarity with Ukraine.

The Independent has approached the NBA for comment.

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