DALLAS — Expect the NBPA — the players’ union — to fight Nets star Kyrie Irving’s suspension over promoting an anti-Semitic movie.
A minimum of that’s what Celtics star Jaylen Brown — an NBPA vp, like Irving — told the Boston Globe. After the Nets suspended Irving for no less than five games and placed his return conditional upon him meeting six requirements, Brown said the union felt the demands onerous.
“I’ve been talking to Kyrie,” Brown said. “I’ve talked to Adam [Silver, NBA commissioner], I talked to Tamika [Tremaglio, NBPA executive director], I’ve talked to just about everybody about this example.
“But I’m expecting the NBPA to appeal the suspension from Brooklyn. The terms, etc., that went into his return. The terms for his return, they appear to be loads, and lots of the players expressed discomfort with the terms.”
The Nets reportedly are demanding that Irving, 1.) publicly apologize for the Oct. 27 social media links to the anti-Semitic film, 2.) complete anti-hate classes (including donating $500,000), 3.) complete sensitivity training, 4.) complete anti-hate/anti-Semitic training, 5.) meet with Jewish leaders (including the ADL), and 6.) meet with team owner Joe Tsai, whose texts he reportedly ignored.
“I don’t consider Kyrie Irving is antisemitic,” said Brown, who parted with Donda Sports agency on Oct. 25 following Kanye West’s anti-Semitic statements. “I don’t think people in our governing bodies think he’s antisemitic. He made a mistake. We understand from an out of doors perspective how vital sensitivity is to not condone hate speech and never condone anything of that nature. It’s sensitivity to the dialect around that. We don’t wish to arise for anyone so as to not condemn hate speech but I don’t consider Kyrie Irving is anti-Semitic. And hopefully the NBA feels the identical way.”
Silver — who’s Jewish — also demanded that Irving meet with him this week. That sit-down is anticipated to happen Tuesday.
“He made a mistake,” Brown said. “He posted something. There was no distinction.
“Perhaps we will move forward, however the terms during which he has to satisfy to return, I feel not only speaking for me, speaking as a vp from lots of our players, we didn’t agree with the terms that was required for him to return back and we’re waiting for this Tuesday meeting to occur to see what comes of it. But we’ll go from there. That’s all I’ll say.”
DALLAS — Expect the NBPA — the players’ union — to fight Nets star Kyrie Irving’s suspension over promoting an anti-Semitic movie.
A minimum of that’s what Celtics star Jaylen Brown — an NBPA vp, like Irving — told the Boston Globe. After the Nets suspended Irving for no less than five games and placed his return conditional upon him meeting six requirements, Brown said the union felt the demands onerous.
“I’ve been talking to Kyrie,” Brown said. “I’ve talked to Adam [Silver, NBA commissioner], I talked to Tamika [Tremaglio, NBPA executive director], I’ve talked to just about everybody about this example.
“But I’m expecting the NBPA to appeal the suspension from Brooklyn. The terms, etc., that went into his return. The terms for his return, they appear to be loads, and lots of the players expressed discomfort with the terms.”
The Nets reportedly are demanding that Irving, 1.) publicly apologize for the Oct. 27 social media links to the anti-Semitic film, 2.) complete anti-hate classes (including donating $500,000), 3.) complete sensitivity training, 4.) complete anti-hate/anti-Semitic training, 5.) meet with Jewish leaders (including the ADL), and 6.) meet with team owner Joe Tsai, whose texts he reportedly ignored.
“I don’t consider Kyrie Irving is antisemitic,” said Brown, who parted with Donda Sports agency on Oct. 25 following Kanye West’s anti-Semitic statements. “I don’t think people in our governing bodies think he’s antisemitic. He made a mistake. We understand from an out of doors perspective how vital sensitivity is to not condone hate speech and never condone anything of that nature. It’s sensitivity to the dialect around that. We don’t wish to arise for anyone so as to not condemn hate speech but I don’t consider Kyrie Irving is anti-Semitic. And hopefully the NBA feels the identical way.”
Silver — who’s Jewish — also demanded that Irving meet with him this week. That sit-down is anticipated to happen Tuesday.
“He made a mistake,” Brown said. “He posted something. There was no distinction.
“Perhaps we will move forward, however the terms during which he has to satisfy to return, I feel not only speaking for me, speaking as a vp from lots of our players, we didn’t agree with the terms that was required for him to return back and we’re waiting for this Tuesday meeting to occur to see what comes of it. But we’ll go from there. That’s all I’ll say.”
