Kyrie Irving has apologized to anybody who was offended by his sharing of a link to a documentary that contains antisemitic content and will rejoin the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
After sitting out the past eight games, Irving will get the nod in the starting lineup for the Nets against the Grizzlies (7 ET, League Pass). The point guard’s fitness will be tracked during the game, according Coach Jacque Vaughn.
After Irving declined to claim he did not have any antisemitic sentiments while speaking to media at the Nets’ practice facility on the evening of November 3, the organization suspended him.
Once back at the arena for the morning shootaround, Irving said he should have done better during the interview.
Saying, “I don’t stand for anything akin to hate speech or antisemitism or anything that is going against the human race,” Irving made it clear that he did not support such views. There was a way I should have handled all this, and as I look back and reflect, I deeply regret anyone who felt threatened or hurt by what I posted; that was not my intent at all. I believe we should all have a chance to speak for ourselves when things are assumed about us, and I feel it was necessary for me to stand in this place and take accountability for my actions.
I had no intention of hurting anybody, and Irving said, “Yeah, this is a major moment for me because I’m able to learn during this process that the power of my voice is very great, the effect that I have within my community is extremely strong, and I want to be accountable for it.” To achieve that goal, one must recognize their own fallibility and accept responsibility for the harm they have caused others.
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On Saturday, Irving said to SNY, “I just want to apologize profoundly for all my acts throughout the period that it’s been since the post was initially put up. There has been a lot of time for reflection. If I had things to do again, I’d prioritize mending fences with my Jewish family members and friends.
Kyrie Irving
During Irving’s ban, he met with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Nets owner Joe Tsai, and thereafter, both men publicly said that they did not think Irving had anti-Semitic views.
Memphis will be without All-Star guard Ja Morant on Sunday because of an injured left ankle he suffered on Friday.
