The words of Kyrie Irving and his promotion of an anti-Semitic film have not yet reacted to the NBA, and the Nets have another more burning file to manage: the succession of Steve Nash.
Wednesday is therefore the players’ union, without naming Kyrie Irving, who has stepped up to condemn anti-Semitism. It should be remembered that this same Irving is one of the vice-presidents of the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association).
“Anti-Semitism has no place in our society” writes the players union. “The NBPA is focused on creating an environment where everyone is accepted. We are committed to helping players understand that certain words can lead to the spread of hateful ideologies. We will continue to work on identifying and addressing all hate speech wherever it occurs. »
And that’s all. No sanction, and Kyrie Irving will retain his position as vice-president.
In Brooklyn, we are looking for the most appropriate answer
On the Brooklyn side, we decided not to add fuel to the fire after the heated exchange between the player and journalists, and Kyrie Irving did not appear at a press conference after the victory against the Pacers, nor after the loss to the Bulls.
“I think everyone knows he’s going to have to answer these questions at some point, and he’s never shied away from it in the past.”notes GM Sean Marks. “But I think the last press conference didn’t go well. We’re not trying to stifle it, and I think it’s a subject that needs to be addressed, but let’s address it in the right form and in the right way. »
As to whether Kyrie Irving will be sanctioned for his remarks, Sean Marks explains that the franchise is currently discussing with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to find the most appropriate response.
Charles Barkley attacks the NBA
“Let him calm down and, I imagine that we have to leave room for more peaceful ideas”, did he declare. “We have to open up and educate ourselves, educate the group as a whole and get some direction, look for experts, and one of them is definitely the ADL. »
Unsurprisingly, the subject was at the heart of the TNT broadcast. If Shaquille O’Neal thinks that Kyrie Irving is ” an idiot“, Charles Barkley attacked the NBA.
“I think the NBA mishandled this case. I think he should have been suspended. Adam Silver should have suspended him. First, Adam is a Jew. You can’t take $40 million from me and insult my religion.” believes Charles Barkley. “You can insult me, you have the right. But I also have the right to say, ‘No, you’re not going to take my 40 million dollars and insult my religion’. The NBA made a mistake. We suspended people and fined people who used homophobic slurs, and that was the right thing to do. »
Reggie Miller attacks the players
Commentator on the meeting between the Nets and the Bulls for TNT, Reggie Miller also spoke on the subject, and he finds that the players are as much to blame as the NBA. He would have liked the players to react in the same way as when it came to condemning the racism of Donald Sterling or the behavior of Robert Sarver.
“In the past, this league has been remarkable because the players have shown the way and there are strong voices” recalls Reggie Miller. “When there was the Donald Sterling case, when there was the Robert Sarver case recently, the voices of the basketball community and our players were heard calling for disciplinary action to be taken – or let them go away. There, it is one of theirs, and there was no reaction. It’s disappointing, because this league was built on the shoulders of players standing up for themselves. Good is good and bad is bad. And if you want to expose the owners, rightly so, you must also expose the players. You can’t stay silent when it comes to Kyrie Irving. I want to hear from the players and their strong opinions as well, just like we heard from Robert Sarver and Donald Sterling. »
