NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met with Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving as a step toward reconciliation after his suspension for tweeting about an antisemitic film
After giving Kyrie Irving several days to properly apologize for tweeting about an antisemitic film, the Brooklyn Nets suspended the superstar guard on Nov. 3 for five games without pay.
At the same time the team parted ways with head coach Steve Nash, Irving’s suspension (though finite) raised questions about not only his long-term prospects with the Brooklyn Nets, but also his long-term prospects of playing in the NBA.
Amid the scandal, Kyrie Irving received admonishment not only from the team but also from the league and NBPA. Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement in response, once it became clear that Irving wasn’t going to issue an unequivocal apology.
Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material. . . . I will be meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss this situation.
In a first step to get back on the court, Irving met with Silver. Early reporting after the meeting suggested that the conversation was productive, opening the door for Brooklyn to bring Kyrie Irving back.
Kyrie Irving’s road back to the Brooklyn Nets
But just meeting with Silver alone wasn’t enough to get the star back on the court. As part of the suspension, the team informed Irving that he needed to complete six action items before returning to play, giving the Nets time to reassess his comeback.
While he’s moved forward in completing some of the items on the list, Nets GM Sean Marks stated that it’s up to Kyrie Irving to take the process seriously and demonstrate actual remorse. The apology alone wouldn’t be enough.
So far, Irving has missed three games. While he has taken some of the steps to return to play, the team will ultimately determine the timeline for his comeback.