Kyrie Irving is BACK! Disgraced Brooklyn Nets star returns to action in the starting line-up after being suspended eight games for posting ‘anti-Semitic’ tweet
Kyrie Irving made his Brooklyn Nets comeback Sunday night as he was named in the starting five to face the Memphis Grizzlies on home turf following suspension.
The 30-year-old was indefinitely banned by the Nets ‘until he satisfied a series of objective remedial measures that addressed the harmful impact of his conduct’ after posting a link to the Amazon page of a film based on a book described as ‘anti-Semitic’.
After missing eight games since being suspended on November 3 he appears to have met the road to redemption requirements set by the team.
Irving was as expected included in the line-up to face the Grizzlies at the Barclays Center. He started alongside Joe Harris, Kevin Durant, Royce O’Neale and Ben Simmons.
The guard released a more formal apology on Saturday in an interview with SNY, where he said he isn’t anti-Semitic’ and wanted to ‘apologize deeply’ for the posts.
Kyrie Irving made his Brooklyn Nets comeback Sunday night following suspension for tweet
The 30-year-old ignited controversy by tweeting a link to the Amazon page for the 2018 film ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America’
He was suspended for at least five games and served that minimum ban last Saturday but owner Joe Tsai said Irving still had ‘work to do’ at their win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Irving ignited controversy by tweeting a link to the Amazon page for the 2018 film ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.’
The movie is based on a 2015 book by the same name, which Rolling Stone described as ‘venomously anti-Semitic.’
After posting the Amazon link to the film on Twitter, Irving quarreled with media, telling reporters ‘I’m not going to stand down on anything that I believe in.’ He then appeared to backtrack by deleting the post without an explanation.
After missing eight games since being suspended on November 3, Irving played the Grizzlies
After days of competing statements from Irving, the Nets, Tsai, and Silver, the club suspended the All-Star for at least five games.
Irving, who has been criticized for failing to apologize, finally said he was sorry in a statement, but only after he got his minimum five-game ban from the Nets.
The Nets released an angry and frustrated statement earlier this month, saying the decision to suspend Irving stemmed from his ongoing lack of apology, the latest of refusal coming after an awful media appearance.
Irving has faced a barrage of criticism, ranging from the team’s front office to NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, former NBA players and media and never had a fixed date for his return after being suspended earlier this month.
‘I’m not anti-Semitic, I never have been,’ Irving told SNY. ‘I don’t have hate in my heart for the Jewish people or anyone that identifies as a Jew. I’m not anti-Jewish.’
The controversial movie is based on a 2015 book by the same name, which Rolling Stone described as ‘venomously anti-Semitic.’
‘I just want to apologize deeply for all of my actions throughout the time that it’s been since the post was first put in,’ Irving continued.
‘I’ve had a lot of time to think, but my focus initially – if I could do it over – would be to heal and repair a lot of my close relationships with my Jewish relatives.
‘I’ve always tried to stand up for what I believe in and stand up for those I feel like are being discriminated against based on their skin color or religion.
‘I stand with all of my brothers and sisters that are really doing the things necessary to bring harmony and peace to this world.’
Kevin Durant has taken on most of the workload, leading Brooklyn to a 5-3 record in Irving’s absence. The Nets claimed wins over the Wizards, Hornets, Knicks, Clippers, and Trail Blazers – coupled with losses to the Mavericks, Lakers, and Kings.
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