The Brooklyn Nets have suspended All-Star guard Kyrie Irving at least five games without pay, the team announced in a statement Thursday evening.
“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 stated in a tweet.
Statement from the Brooklyn Nets pic.twitter.com/699px8XYpx
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 4, 2022
“Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets,” the statement continued.
Earlier Thursday, Irving gave a non-committal response in an interview when asked if he has any antisemitic beliefs.
Kyrie Irving is asked if he has any anti-Semitic beliefs: pic.twitter.com/hHI8FFqMbs
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 3, 2022
“I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from,” Irving said in the interview.
Irving tweeted a link to a film called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” last Thursday, according to the Associated Press. The tweet has since been deleted following backlash from team ownership but Irving has refused to apologize, the report continued. (RELATED: Protestors Sit Front Row At NBA Game After Kyrie Irving Shares Anti-Semitic Movie. Will He Be Unemployed Soon?)
Irving and the Nets announced Wednesday they would both be donating $500,000 towards groups to eradicate hate, CNBC reported.
Breaking: The Nets have suspended Kyrie Irving without pay, the team announced.
The suspension will be for “no less than five games,” the team said. pic.twitter.com/qCpVIc1yZC
— ESPN (@espn) November 3, 2022
“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,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said, according to ESPN.
Irving is averaging 26.9 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds through eight games this season, according to Basketball Reference.