According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets suspended Kyrie Irving. The Nets released a public statement just moments later detailing why they suspended the seven-time All-Star.
Commissioner Adam Silver released an official statement stating how “disappointed” he was that Irving didn’t offer an “unqualified apology.”
The Nets have suspended Kyrie Irving.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 3, 2022
According to the statement, Brooklyn is suspending Irving after they “made repeated attempts to work with” Irving “to help him understand the harm and danger of his words and actions.” The controversy surrounding the former Duke Blue Devil began after he posted a film on his social media that featured several anti-Semitic tropes.
Brooklyn says they believe “taking the path of education in this challenging situation would be the right one and thought that we had made progress with our joint commitment to eradicating hate and tolerance.” They go on to state that they are “dismayed” that Irving “refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, no acknowledge specific hateful material in the film” during his most recent media session.
Nets statement pic.twitter.com/8movfKNRdT
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 3, 2022
The Nets finished the statement by saying Irving “is currently unfit to be associated” with the team and that the three-time All-NBA selection “will serve a suspension without pay until he satisfies a series of injective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct and the suspension period serves is no less than five games.”
On Wednesday, the Nets and Irving pledged to donate half a million dollars “toward causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities.” The Nets also said that they and Irving will work with the Anti-Defamation League in an “effort to develop educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of antisemitism and bigotry.”
