Kyrie Irving’s antics have become memes and the butt of jokes for years. But in reality, they were part of a snowball effect that culminated in the events of Thursday evening.
That’s when the Brooklyn Nets finally said enough is enough and took action against the 7x All-Star guard.
Last week on Twitter, Kyrie posted a link to Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, a controversial, error-filled documentary containing various anti-Semitic themes.
Despite being given opportunities to apologize for posting the link, Kyrie said he “took responsibility” for the decision but refused to apologize.
After he and the Nets made matching $500,000 donations to support anti-hate initiatives with the Anti-Defamation League, Kyrie said he was “aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community” and “meant no harm.”
Yet he adamantly refused to apologize.
And that came after Nets owner Joseph Tsai voiced his displeasure with Kyrie and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver weighed in publically on the situation.
“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material,” said Silver in a statement. “While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize. I will be meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss this situation.”
On Thursday evening, the Nets taught Kyrie that arrogance and ignorance have repercussions.
After a week of drama, distraction, criticism and in-arena protests, the Nets suspended their star point guard “for at least five games without pay.”
“We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity — but failed — to clarify,” the Nets said in a statement.
“Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.”
Ever since leaving the Cavaliers, Irving has appeared to be unfit and always seems to do something that unsettles and destabilizes a team.
He did it with the Celtics, becoming a media sideshow by claiming the earth was flat. He even promised to stay with the team but ultimately bolted.
He did it three times to the Nets.
In 2021, he refused to get vaccinated under the ridiculous pretense of wanting to be a voice for the voiceless during the City’s vaccine mandate. A few weeks ago he posted a video on Alex Jones’s “New World Order” conspiracy theory. And last week he shared the ignorant documentary under the guise of history needing to be shared.
“History is not supposed to be hidden from anybody,” said Kyrie.
Understand this.
Kyrie was born in the Bronx and raised in New Jersey.
He knows about the Black Israelites who used to verbally attack people on 34th and 7th avenue in Manhattan. They preached their brand of “history” by lashing out at Black men who walked with white women. They verbally abused white tourists who were exploring and shopping in the area.
But, according to Kyrie, he only shared a link to the film. It wasn’t his documentary so we shouldn’t be upset with him or hold him accountable for it.
So Kyrie basically pulled the pin out of a grenade, threw it in a crowded area and watched the destruction that ensued. But because he didn’t make the grenade, he doesn’t have to take responsibility for the damage it caused.
Late Thursday night, Irving issued an apology on Instagram, stating, in part, that he was “deeply sorry” for the pain he caused.
This came AFTER he was given multiple opportunities to do just that. That came AFTER he was suspended for “at least five games” without pay.
Last year I posed the question of whether Kyrie was actually worth the trouble and headache he brings.
On Thursday evening, the Brooklyn Nets answered that.
