Kyrie Irving insisted he didn't mean to cause anyone any harm as he prepares to return to NBA action with the Brooklyn Nets following his suspension.
Irving was suspended by the Nets for five games without pay on November 3 after he failed to apologise for sharing a link to an antisemitic film on social media. The seven-time All-Star refused to ‘unequivocally say he has no antisemitic views’ despite having numerous opportunities to do so.
The 30-year-old was then asked to work through six steps in order to return to action, with Brooklyn asking him to apologise and make a donation of $500,000 (£427,574) to anti-hate causes. Irving was also asked to complete sensitivity and antisemitic training, while the Nets requested him to meet with the Anti-Defamation League, local Jewish community leaders and finally with owner Joe Tsai.
On Saturday, Irving fully apologised for his actions and detailed a number of incidents over the past few weeks, insisting he chiefly reacted emotionally to being labelled antisemitic. He was with the Nets at their shootaround on Sunday morning and reiterated the recent events.
“I meant no harm to any person, to any group of people and yeah, this is a big moment for me because I’m able to learn throughout this process that the power of my voice is very strong, the influence that I have within my community is very strong, and I want to be responsible for that,” Irving said. “In order to do that, you have to admit when you’re wrong and in instances where you hurt people and it impacts them.”
Irving was averaging 26.9 points per game to go with 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists before his suspension. Ahead of his return, the star guard suggested he should have handled the original interview differently and quashed suggestions he may be antisemitic immediately.
“I don’t stand for anything close to hate speech or antisemitism or anything that is going against the human race,” Irving said. “I feel like we all should have an opportunity to speak for ourselves when things are assumed about us and I feel it was necessary for me to stand in this place and take accountability for my actions, because there was a way I should have handled all this and as I look back and reflect when I had the opportunity to offer my deep regrets to anyone that felt threatened or felt hurt by what I posted, that wasn’t my intent at all.”
On the court, Irving’s Nets currently sit at 7-9 amid a turbulent start to the season, with Steve Nash fired as head coach and replaced by Jacque Vaughn.
After missing eight games due to team suspension upon his reluctance to denounce his antisemitic stances, Irving is listed as questionable and could play at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
