Kyrie Irving to be honored by Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 28: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on during a game against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on February 28, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Kyrie Irving is set to be honored by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, of which he is a descendant on his mother’s side.

Depending on who you ask, Kyrie Irving is either the most woke player in the NBA , the most absurd, or just the biggest troll in the league. From his questioning the earth’s roundness at All Star Weekend a year and a half ago to his rather bizarre interview with the New York Times earlier this summer alongside his starring role in Uncle Drew, Irving has carved out his own particular niche in the NBA landscape, becoming one of the more unique players in recent league history.

In an upcoming event that will only solidify his place as perhaps the most interesting man in the NBA, on Aug. 23, Irving will be honored at a homecoming ceremony by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. According to a press release by the Tribe, it will include a “naming ceremony” alongside other festivities. Irving is a descendent of the Tribe on his mother’s side, who was adopted out of the Tribe as a child, and his grandmother was a citizen of the Tribe herself.

Kyrie has done anything but keep his ancestry, and his support of the Standing Rock Sioux a secret. In November 2016, when protests regarding the building of the Dakota Access pipeline, and the environmental destruction it would cause, were happening, Irving tweeted out support for all those protesting.

Also, following his knee surgery last season, Irving posted an Instagram photo with a lengthy caption that included the hashtag #StandingRockSiouxTribe and a photo that includes his tattoo of the Standing Rock seal, located on the back of his neck. And now, Irving’s latest shoe, the Kyrie 4’s, will also feature the Standing Rock seal on the heel.

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According to the Chairman Faith of the Tribe, “We could not be more excited, he has made us all very proud. To know that he has not forgotten his roots and is taking the time before he starts his basketball season to visit the People, his People, shows that Kyrie has great character and pride in his heritage.”

This should be an exciting event for both Irving and the Sioux Tribe, while adding another layer of intrigue to one of the best, and most fascinating, players in the NBA.

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