Kyrie Irving apologizes and returns to the Nets

Kyrie Irving will play for the Brooklyn Nets again on Sunday after apologizing for tweeting a link to an antisemitic documentary.

Irving was suspended by the organization on November 3 after he failed to deny holding antisemitic views while speaking to media at the Nets’ practice facility.

Irving stated he should have handled the situation differently upon his return to the gym for the team’s morning shootaround on Sunday.

Irving stated, “I do not support hate speech, antisemitism, or anything that is detrimental to the human race.” “I believe we should all have an opportunity to speak for ourselves when things are assumed about us, and I believe it was necessary for me to stand in this place and take responsibility for my actions, because there was a way I should have handled all of this, and as I look back and reflect on the opportunity I had to offer my deepest apologies to anyone who felt threatened or hurt by what I posted, that was in no way my intention.” Kyrie Irving (11) of the Brooklyn Nets advances the ball during the fourth quarter of their game against the Chicago Bulls on November 1, 2022 at the Barclays Center in New York City. Dustin Satloff / Getty Photographic

Irving has missed eight games due to his suspension, which the Nets have stated would last for at least five games without pay. The organization said that he will be available for Sunday night’s home game against Memphis.

When Irving posted the link to “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” on his Twitter profile, he said he was first looking for additional information about his lineage. According to the Amazon plot summary, the 2018 film “reveals the true identity of the Children of Israel.”

The video is packed with Jewish conspiracy ideas, such as bogus assertions that Jews ruled the slave trade.

When first questioned about his freedom to share things that interests him, he was belligerent. A few days later, during another interview, he refused to apologize or clarify his religious convictions, resulting to his suspension.

Irving said, “How can you brand someone an antisemite if you don’t know them?” “I was properly defensive that there was a presumption that I may be antisemitic, or that I intended to upload a documentary to stand beside all the viewpoints in the video,” he added.

Later, in an Instagram post, Irving did apologize for not articulating the precise ideas with which he agreed and disagreed when he shared the documentary.

On Sunday, he thanked family and friends for their support in a speech lasting almost 12 minutes. Some, including National Basketball Players Association executives and Nets general manager Sean Marks, were there while he talked.

Irving stated, “I did not intend any damage to any person or group of people, and this is a major moment for me because I’ve learned through this process that the strength of my voice and the impact I have within my community are extremely great, and I want to be accountable for that.” “In order to do so, you must confess when you are wrong and when your actions have negatively affected others.”

The aftermath from Nike’s suspension of its agreement with Irving appeared to further fracture the relationship between Irving and the Nets, who declined to extend his contract last summer. Last season, he missed the most of their home games because he refused to acquire the COVID-19 vaccination that was required at the time in New York City.

When suspending him, the organization stated that he was “unfit to be involved with the Brooklyn Nets.” On Sunday, the Nets applauded Irving on his progress since then.

“Kyrie took responsibility of this trip and spoke with several Jewish community members,” the team stated in a statement. We are satisfied with the manner in which he is approaching the situation.

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