CNN
—
Brooklyn Nets proprietor Joe Tsai says he believes Nets star Kyrie Irving “doesn’t have any beliefs of hate in direction of Jewish individuals.”
Tsai tweeted on Friday: “Clara and I met with Kyrie and his household yesterday. We spent high quality time to know one another and it’s clear to me that Kyrie doesn’t have any beliefs of hate in direction of Jewish individuals or any group.
“The Nets and Kyrie, along with the NBA and NBPA, are working constructively towards a strategy of forgiveness, therapeutic and training.”
Tsai’s tweet refers back to the Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation (NBPA) the place Irving presently serves as considered one of six vice presidents on the nine-person govt committee.
The Nets suspended Irving final week after he doubled down on his choice to share an Amazon hyperlink to a documentary criticized as antisemitic to his thousands and thousands of social media followers. The 30-year-old NBA star apologized on his Instagram account after his suspension was introduced.
Earlier within the week, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he believes that Irving will not be antisemitic following a gathering between the 2.
Silver, who’s Jewish, advised the New York Occasions that the 2 had “a direct and candid dialog” on the league’s headquarters in New York.
“He’s somebody I’ve recognized for a decade, and I’ve by no means heard an antisemitic phrase from him or, frankly, hate directed at any group,” Silver stated.
In a follow-up name with the newspaper, Silver added: “Whether or not or not he’s antisemitic will not be related to the harm brought on by the posting of hateful content material.”
Irving may return to NBA motion as quickly as Sunday when the Nets tackle the Los Angeles Lakers on the Crypto.com Enviornment.
Silver stated the Nets together with the league will seek the advice of to resolve when Irving can return from suspension.
Along with the suspension, Irving is required to finish different steps to return to the court docket.
Brooklyn Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks stated beforehand that Irving would wish to cross “some remedial steps and measures” for the star to rejoin the crew.
