Three weeks ago, Austin Rivers posted a detailed comment on Instagram pushing back on Kyrie Irving’s view that NBA players shouldn’t resume the 2019-20 season amid the growing U.S. racial justice movement.
On a media conference call Friday, the Houston Rockets guard said many other players around the league have since reached out to him to express their support for his thoughtful perspective.
“I understand what he meant,” Rivers said of Irving. “In a lot of ways, I think it’s admirable for him wanting social change. I want it, too. I guess the way that I want to go about it is different than what he does.”
It’s not that it was right or wrong. I just felt that my way was the better way, and he might still feel that it’s his [way]. I don’t know whose is, we’ll find out.
But from the support I’ve gotten from players — I saw a lot of guys retweet or put it on their story — a lot of players. I saw on their stories, they had my comments and quotes. A lot of players DMed [direct messaged] me.
Austin Rivers says he's heard a lot of support from fellow NBA players in recent weeks about his comments pushing back on Kyrie Irving's movement.https://t.co/DFW96rzELj
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 3, 2020
Rivers said the feedback he had heard about his comments was all positive, and that he wasn’t aware of anything negative.
“I’ve had conversations with a lot of NBA players, All-Stars that I’ve been on the phone with,” Rivers said on Friday’s conference call from Toyota Center, where he and other Rockets players are going through individual workouts to gear up for the NBA’s restart later this month.
“They’ve appreciated the comments that I’ve said,” Rivers added. “That’s not what it was intended for. I literally just posted a comment. I didn’t even tweet or DM that. I commented, and it kind of took off from there.”
In his original post on June 13, Rivers wrote:
Us coming back would be putting money in all our pockets. With this money, you could help out even more people and continue to give, more importantly, your time and energy towards the BLM [Black Lives Matter] movement. Which I’m 100% on board with. …
I love Kyrie’s passion towards helping this movement. I’m with it… but in the right way, and not at the cost of the whole NBA and players’ careers. We can do both. We can play, and we can help change the way black lives are lived. … Canceling or boycotting a return doesn’t do that, in my opinion. Guys want to play and provide and help change!
Austin Rivers on the Kyrie/NBA situation pic.twitter.com/L0dwoD7c6h
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) June 13, 2020
Rivers also pointed to the financial ramifications of not resuming the season, which could lead to billions in lost revenue and player salaries, as well as needing to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with owners. Many have speculated that those negotiations could lead to a labor fight and jeopardize next season, as well.
“The ramifications of not playing with the TV money, CBA, etc., would really put NBA basketball behind,” he said. “Possibly even canceling next year.” Rivers, who is on a minimum contract with the Rockets, further argued that many NBA players need the paychecks now.
“There are plenty of NBA players I know who need them paychecks… 99% of the NBA hasn’t made the money a guy like Kyrie has,” Rivers wrote.
On Friday, Rivers clarified that he doesn’t see Irving’s view as incorrect. Rather, he’s just providing additional perspective. “My opinion wasn’t saying Kyrie was wrong,” he said. “It was just different.”
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