Nets Lift Kyrie Irving’s Suspension After Apology For Antisemitic Tweet

Topline

Kyrie Irving practiced with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday for the first time since he was suspended on November 3, and he’s expected to return to the team for a Sunday night game, after the point guard struck a conciliatory tone in an interview more than three weeks after Irving drew outrage for tweeting a link to an antisemitic film.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of … [+] an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Key Facts

Irving said he doesn’t “stand for anything close to hate speech or antisemitism,” he told the Associated Press from the team’s morning shootaround on Sunday.

Irving offered his “deep regrets to anyone that felt threatened or felt hurt” when he tweeted a link to the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, which includes antisemitic tropes, including false narratives that Jews worship Satan and have aspirations of world domination.

Irving, who has missed eight games during his suspension and lost a shoe deal with Nike, is expected to play in the Nets’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night, multiple outlets reported.

Crucial Quote

“Kyrie took ownership of his journey and had conversations with several members of the Jewish community. We are pleased that he is going about the process in a meaningful way,” the Brooklyn Nets said in a statement sent to multiple outlets.

Key Background

After Irving tweeted the link on October 27, he initially said he would “take responsibility” for the posting, but then refused to say he was not antisemitic in a heated exchange with reporters during a press conference days later. He was suspended by the Nets for a minimum of five games several days later, with the team saying his “failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing,” and issued an apology via social media shortly after. The controversy led Nike to suspend its relationship with Irving, and drew criticism from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

Tangent

Irving’s comments on Sunday follow an apology he made in an extensive interview with SNY published Saturday. Irving said he “stands for peace” and doesn’t “condone any hate speech or any prejudice.” He said he is “not antisemitic” and has no “hate in my heart for the Jewish people.” Explaining why he initially refused to say he was not antisemitic, Irving said: “I reacted out of . . . just pure defense and just hurt that I could be labeled or thought that I was being labeled as antisemitic or anti-Jewish.”

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Crucial Quote

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