Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is currently serving a team-imposed suspension for promoting an antisemitic film, and while it’s unclear if Irving will accept the Nets’ return-to-play conditions, the star guard did meet with NBA commissioner Adam Silver this week.
In an interview with the New York Times, Silver spoke about his meeting with Irving, and said that he felt Irving’s suspension was “the right outcome.”
“We had a direct and candid conversation, he’s someone I’ve known for a decade, and I’ve never heard an antisemitic word from him or, frankly, hate directed at any group.”
…. I think that what I understand where things stand is the Nets are looking to make this into a partnership between them and Kyrie Irving as to what remediation is appropriate. Because what is most important here is that the remorse be truly authentic and genuine. And I think that will best come by conditions that are agreed to upon as opposed to imposed on him. Whether or not he is antisemitic is not relevant to the damage caused by the posting of hateful content. I feel that we got to the right outcome here in terms of his suspension,” Silver said. “And in retrospect, we may have been able to get there faster. I accept that criticism. But I felt it was important to understand the context in which it was posted to understand what discipline was appropriate, not in any way to excuse it but to understand what discipline was appropriate.”
On Thursday, LeBron James defended Irving on Twitter, and argued that he should be allowed to return to the court without fulfilling the Nets’ demands.
[listicle id=48075]