Kyrie Irving’s indefinite suspension that was handed out by his own team’s owner at the beginning of this month was finally lifted last night before the team’s game in Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn Nets star has found himself at the center of the league’s controversy after he tweeted a link to a documentary that many say contains antisemitic themes and motifs.
On Sunday, Irving apologized for his actions with this statement before the game.
I just want to offer my deep apologies to all those who were impacted over these last few weeks, specifically my Jewish relatives, my Black relatives, all races and cultures. Feels like we all felt an impact and I don’t stand for anything close to hate speech or antisemitism or anything that is ‘anti’, going against the human race.
This is not the first time Irving has apologized for his Tweet, but it is what many consider his most sincere apology to date on the matter.
Irving would go on to put up 14 points in 26 against the Memphis Grizzlies after having not played since November 1.
Irving is an easy target for the media after the star was forced to sit out most of the team’s home games last year due to his refusal to take the Covid vaccine.
It is no surprise now that the media is ready to point out any mistakes that Irving makes.
After the game, Irving alluded to this and said that he wishes for a platform where he can freely speak his mind without fear of retaliation from the league and media, in a quote shared by New York Times writer Sopan Deb.
Kyrie Irving postgame: "I would like to be on a platform where I could openly share how I feel without being harshly criticized or being labeled or dealing with outside perceptions that have nothing to do with me.”
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) November 21, 2022
I would like to be on a platform where I could openly share how I feel without being harshly criticized or being labeled or dealing with outside perceptions that have nothing to do with me.
Former NBA player Royce White also had this to say regarding the mainstream sports media’s attempt to label anyone whom they don’t like as a racist or bigot.
If Kyrie Irving is any example of arbitrarily using the label “hate” or “hate speech”, I think I’m starting to see a common thread here. I would like to decide for myself what I consider to be “hateful” thank you very much. No more letting the “system” tell us what to think.
— Royce White 🇺🇸 (@Highway_30) November 21, 2022
If Kyrie Irving is any example of arbitrarily using the label “hate” or “hate speech”, I think I’m starting to see a common thread here. I would like to decide for myself what I consider to be “hateful” thank you very much. No more letting the “system” tell us what to think.
Many current and former NBA players are beginning to feel that Irving was unfairly or hastily labeled as a bigot and has been vilified unfairly.
Boston Celtics’ star Jaylen Brown also seemed to have Kyrie’s back on this matter, when he Tweeted.
This response is alarming for multiple reasons https://t.co/LCIEERpNYF
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) November 13, 2022
This response is alarming for multiple reasons.
This is in reply to the Brooklyn Nets’ owner Joe Tsai saying that Irving “still has work to do” in order to prove that he is sorry for his actions.
This story will likely continue to divide the NBA world and be a focal talking point for the rest of the season, but Kyrie appears set to be on the court from here on out.
By: Goose
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