LeBron James: Kyrie Irving Should Be Allowed to Return Now

Lakers star LeBron James made his feelings known about the suspension of Kyrie Irving, saying that he viewed Irving’s suspension as being “excessive” and that the Nets star should be allowed to play.

“I told you guys that I don’t believe in sharing hurtful information,” James tweeted. “And I’ll continue to be that way but Kyrie apologized and he should be able to play. That’s what I think. It’s that simple. Help him learn — but he should be playing.”

Irving has been suspended by the Nets for a minimum of five games after sharing a link to an anti-Semitic film. The movie is available on Amazon.

According to multiple reports, Irving must complete multiple steps before the Nets consider allowing him to return. Among those steps are reportedly both sensitivity training and anti-Semitic training.

“What he’s asked to do to get back on the floor I think is excessive IMO,” James tweeted. “He’s not the person that’s being portrayed of him.”

James and Irving were teammates with the Cavaliers, the pair lifting the 2016 team to the lone championship in franchise history.

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown recently said the players union is expected to appeal the conditions for Irving’s return, as we relayed here. 

“I don’t believe Kyrie Irving is antisemitic,” Brown said, via Gary Washburn ofthe Boston Globe. “I don’t think people in our governing bodies think he’s antisemitic. He made a mistake. We understand from an outside perspective how important sensitivity is to not condone hate speech and not condone anything of that nature. It’s sensitivity to the dialect around that. We don’t want to stand up for somebody in order to not condemn hate speech, but I don’t believe Kyrie Irving is antisemitic. And hopefully the NBA feels the same way.”

Meanwhile, James exited Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers with what is being called a left abductor strain. We have more on that story here.

the floor I think is excessive IMO. He’s not the person that’s being portrayed of him. Anyways back to my rehab session.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 10, 2022