Kevin Durant has appeared to take aim at his own team after the Brooklyn Net suspended his friend and team-mate Kyrie Irving amidst an antisemitism row.
Irving has been suspended for five games without pay after he failed to apologise for posting the link to an antisemitic video on his social media page. The 30-year-old held an impromptu press huddle at practice on Thursday and was given the chance to say "I apologise" - but failed to do so.
As a result, the Nets issued a scathing statement in which they said they were "dismayed" by Irving's actions, and would be suspending him until he was deemed fit to represent the team.
Durant, who is close friends with Irving and left the Golden State Warriors in 2019 to team up with him in Brooklyn, suggested on Friday that he felt it was the wrong move for the team to put out a statement.
He said: "I’m not here to judge somebody or talk down on the life or how they feel their views. I just didn't like anything that went on. I felt like it was all unnecessary. I felt like we could have just kept playing basketball and kept quiet as an organisation."
After an immediate backlash, Durant took to Twitter to clarify his comments, and insisted he doesn't condone antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. He wrote: "Just wanna clarify the statements I made at shootaround, I see some people are confused..I don’t condone hate speech or anti-semetism, I’m about spreading love always. Our game Unites people and I wanna make sure that’s at the forefront."
Following the announcement of his suspension, Irving posted a lengthy statement on Instagram and finally used the words NBA commissioner Adam Silver had urged him to use.
Irving wrote: "To all Jewish families and communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologise."
The Nets guard also insisted he doesn't disagree with everything in the documentary, writing: "I want to clarify any confusion on where I stand fighting against antisemitism by apologising for posting the documentary without context and a factual explanation outlining the specific beliefs in the documentary I agreed with and disagreed with.
"I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate."
Irving will miss games against the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and LA Clippers before he is eligible to return.
The Nets will now have to rely solely on Durant to carry the load and take them out of the dreadful start to the season they've made. The Nets have won just two of their first eight games ahead of Friday's game against the Wizards.
