Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving is expected to meet with NBA commissioner Adam Silver this week, perhaps as soon as Tuesday, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Irving has been suspended by the Nets for sharing a link to a film, available on Amazon, that expresses antisemitic views, and then initially refusing to apologize.
He eventually offered an apology on his Instagram account, and now must now undergo sensitivity training before being allowed to return, per Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.
Stern expressed his disappointment about the Irving ordeal in a statement released last week, shortly before the Nets’ announced Irving’s suspension. In the statement, Silver said he intended to meet with Irving.
“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material,” Silver said. “While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize. I will be meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss this situation.”
Irving expressed regret for sharing the link, and standing by it, following the suspension.
Kyrie Irving posts on Instagram that he’s “deeply sorry” pic.twitter.com/j6XVYp3i4m
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) November 4, 2022
Like Silver, the Nets appeared to be most upset that Irving did not apologize immediately.
“Over the last several days, we have made repeated attempts to work with Kyrie Irving to help him understand the harm and danger of his words and actions, which began with him publicizing a film containing deeply disturbing antisemitic hate,” a team statement read. “We believed that taking the path of education in this challenging situation would be the right one and thought that we had made progress with our joint commitment to eradicating hate and intolerance.
“We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity – but failed – to clarify.
“Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.
“We have decided that Kyrie will serve a suspension without pay until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct and the suspension period served is no less than five games.”
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