Kyrie Irving issued a public apology on Sunday morning for endorsing an anti-Semitic film, and the Nets removed his team punishment an hour later.
The prodigal point guard will face Memphis at the Barclays Center on Sunday night.
Irving stated, “I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to everyone affected by the events of the past several weeks, including my Jewish family, my black cousins, and people of all races and cultures.” “I believe everyone felt the impact. And I do not support anything like hate speech, anti-Semitism, or anything hostile to the human race.
“I believe it was vital for me to stand here and accept responsibility for my actions, since there was a better way for me to handle this situation. When I had the opportunity to express my deepest regrets to anyone who felt intimidated or offended by what I shared, I did so. That was not at all my intention. I intended no harm to any individual or organization.”
Irving, who had missed eight consecutive games without pay, issued a public apology at a morning shootaround attended by Brooklyn GM Sean Marks, agent Shetellia Riley Irving (also his stepmother), NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio, and a league representative.
It was the first time Irving had spoken with the gathering press since a contentious interview on November 3 following practice. The following day, the All-Star was suspended for his first Twitter and Instagram tweets praising the antisemitic film, as well as his reluctance to apologize.
Irving acknowledged that he was first defensive due to the idea that he was anti-Semitic or that he intended to post the documentary alongside all of its opposing views. “How can you accuse someone of being anti-Semitic if you do not know them? How can you accuse their family of something for which we have no record?
“I have no history of doing anything similar. So it was natural for me to react in such a manner, and I had to give myself some compassion and time to return home and ponder. And I just started looking further into my family and speaking with the Jewish members, who were hurt. Then, I had conversations with other Jewish persons outside. And they were also injured.”
During that period, the Nets provided Irving with a list of remedial duties, including meeting with Jewish leaders, that he needed to accomplish in order to return.
Irving stated, “Let’s explain the list because I believe the manner in which it was disseminated was wrong and it somehow pushed me in the corner as if I was guilty of something, as if I was an anti-Semite, this label was imposed upon me.”
Nonetheless, Irving, age 30, fulfilled the aforementioned chores to the satisfaction of Brooklyn. After Nets owner Joe Tsai told The Post last weekend that Kyrie Irving “still has more work to do,” Irving apologized in an interview with SNY on Saturday night and was permitted to play after a public statement of regret on Sunday.
The Nets said in a statement, “Kyrie took ownership of his trip and spoke with various members of the Jewish community.” We are satisfied with the manner in which he is approaching the situation.