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ShouldKyrie Irvingmake a return to the NBA?LeBron Jamesthinks so.
The Los Angeles Lakers playertweeted on Thursdaythat he thinks Irving’s suspension was a step too far and that Irving should be able to return to the basketball court.
“I told you guys that I don’t believe in sharing hurtful information. And I’ll continue to be that way but Kyrie apologized and he should be able to play,“James tweeted. “That’s what I think. It’s that simple. Help him learn — but he should be playing.”
That is part of what led James to speak out in support of Irving.
“What he’s asked to do to get back on the floor I think is excessive IMO,“James continued. “He’s not the person that’s being portrayed of him.”
James hadinitially criticized Irvingfor promoting the film, tellingESPNlast week, “I believe what Kyrie didcaused some harmto a lot of people.”
“It doesn’t matter what color your skin is, how tall you are, what position you’re in,” James continued. “If you are promoting or soliciting or saying harmful things to any community that harms people, then I don’t respect it. I don’t condone it.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silverreportedly met with Irvingon Tuesday to discuss the incident, per theAssociated Press.
Silveraddressed that meetingwith Irving at a Washington conference, according to the AP, saying, “I personally, based on what he said directly, to me have no doubt that he’s not antisemitic but I think there’s a process that he’s going to now need to go through,” according toNew York Timesreporter Sopan Deb.
Silver continued, “I think he understands that and incidentally, it’s now with the Nets who are working on the specifics.” Silver did not clarify what Irving would need to do to return to the game.
Silver had sharper words for the Nets star after he had initially tweeted out the film, saying that Irving had made a “reckless decisionto post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material.” He had also expressed disappointment at the time that Irving had not made an apology or “more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize.”
Irving first took accountability for his tweet on Nov. 2, but stopped short of apologizing. Two days later, he gave a fullapology in a message to the Jewish communityon Instagram on Nov. 4.
He said, “I initiallyreacted out of emotionto being unjustly labeled Anti-Semitic, instead of focusing on the healing process of my Jewish Brothers and Sisters that were hurt from the hateful remarks made in the documentary.”
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“I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate,” he continued. “I am learning from this unfortunate event and hope we can find understanding between us all.”
Irving has sat out four games so far, with his fifth scheduled for Saturday night. Barring another suspension from the Nets, he is set to return to the court on Sunday night against James' Lakers.
Along with his suspension,Nike also distanced itselffrom Irving, saying in a statement to PEOPLE that the brand would no longer launch the Kyrie 8 sneakers and would “suspend our relationship with Kyrie Irving effective immediately.”
source: people.com
