NBA media reacts to the Nets suspending Kyrie Irving
After the Nets suspended Kyrie Irving for a minimum of five games, NBA media wondered if the guard would ever play for Brooklyn again.
Kyrie Irving will sit out the Nets’ next five games. And he could sit out much longer.
That’s the conclusion of many in the NBA media after hearing about Brooklyn’s decision to suspend the guard for his social media post promoting an anti-Semitic film and subsequent refusal to apologize, admit wrongdoing or disavow specific anti-Jewish sentiments.
“We are of the view that [Irving] is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets,” the team said in a statement announcing the suspension.
Irving will serve a minimum of five games without pay and remain out “until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct.”
Those in the media reacted with support of the Nets’ actions, exasperation over Irving’s behavior and speculation over his future with the team.
How NBA media reacted to the Nets suspending Kyrie Irving
Kyrie got suspended because he was unable to do these two things:
— Troy Machir (@TroyMachir) November 3, 2022
1) Say "I'm sorry."
2) Say "I'm not anti-Semitic."
Imagine not being able to do that.
This is, at the very least, much more direct and forthcoming on Kyrie than anyone else has been willing to be. It has taken way too long, but this at least gets at the issue. https://t.co/MF9P1oEgam
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) November 4, 2022
Literally all the Nets were looking for Kyrie to do was the bare minimum. To apologize, and to say he does not have antisemitic beliefs.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) November 4, 2022
He couldn't even do that, and at one point in his scrum said "I know the Oxford dictionary."
I appreciate the explanation for why they waited this long to suspend Kyrie.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) November 3, 2022
Their first reaction was to aim for him to understand why his actions were hurtful and when that failed, they acted.
I wouldn't be shocked if he doesn't play another game with the Nets. https://t.co/P2Ar0qiIlC
So now the Brooklyn Nets get to act like a high and mighty moral arbiter and Kyrie gets to be a martyr, which will drive up support for a film that is poison. There were no good answers because Kyrie doesn’t think he has anything to apologize for. But this answer ain’t it.
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) November 4, 2022
What I found especially disturbing during Kyrie's pressers was his tone. These are real issues that have consequences (six million deaths during the Holocaust) and he seemed annoyed that reporters were questioning him. His dismissiveness of the gravity of the subject was shocking
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) November 4, 2022
All Kyrie had to do was say he was sorry. He wouldn’t. Not sure what else the Nets could do
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 4, 2022
Kyrie found out
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) November 4, 2022
this feels very much like 5 games to figure out if they're gonna keep him for the rest of the games.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) November 4, 2022
If Kyrie is being suspended without pay until he apologizes, he may never play for the Nets again https://t.co/uJg0aLhjZU
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) November 4, 2022
I know that firing Steve Nash was based on poor team performance…but the optics of him being let go before Kyrie was suspended is pretty bad.
— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) November 4, 2022
The Nets weren’t the only ones who weren’t convinced by Irving’s shallow performance at his Thursday press conference.
The Anti-Defamation League has declined to accept the $500,000 donation initially promised by Irving and Brooklyn in a bid to make things right with the Jewish community.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt says ADL is not accepting Kyrie Irving’s $500K donation: ‘We were optimistic but after watching the debacle of a press conference, it’s clear that Kyrie feels no accountability for his actions. @ADL cannot in good conscience accept (the donation).’ 1/2
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) November 4, 2022
The best outcome for all of this is for Irving to be educated and come to truly understand his wrongdoing. As Steve Kerr said, “Words matter,” and up to this point, Irving’s actions and words have been insufficient.
A heartfelt apology and a clear denunciation of all bigotry is needed. There’s still a question of whether he is capable of getting to that point.
Unfortunately, hope for that outcome might be dimmed for those who peruse Twitter and encounter tweets backing up Irving’s actions and, worst of all, using his suspension to spread even more anti-Semitic beliefs.
Next. Everything Kyrie Irving said on anti-semitism. dark