NBA Commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t consider Kyrie Irving is anti-Semitic after assembly with the Brooklyn Nets guard this week.
Irving was closely criticised for selling a movie that the seven-time All-Star has since mentioned contained “false anti-Semitic statements”.
The Nets suspended him for not less than 5 video games after he “refused to unequivocally say he has no anti-Semitic beliefs”.
Irving later apologised to these “hurt from the hateful remarks made in the documentary”.
“Based on what he said directly, to me (I) have no doubt that he’s not anti-Semitic but I think there’s a process that he’s going to now need to go through,” Silver mentioned in Washington on Thursday, in response to the Yahoo Sports web site.
Silver, who’s Jewish, instructed the New York Times he had a “direct and candid conversation” with Irving.
“He’s someone I’ve known for a decade, and I’ve never heard an anti-Semitic word from him or, frankly, hate directed at any group,” he mentioned.
Silver added: “Whether or not he is anti-Semitic is not relevant to the damage caused by the posting of hateful content.”
In addition to the suspension, Brooklyn outlined an inventory of six necessities he needed to fulfill earlier than rejoining the crew.
That included apologising, condemning the movie, making a $US500,000 donation ($A759,000) to anti-hate causes and finishing anti-Semitism coaching.
Irving’s former teammate LeBron James mentioned whereas he didn’t consider in sharing “hurtful information,” Irving must be allowed to return to the court docket following his apology.
“Help him learn, but he should be playing,” James tweeted on Thursday.
“What he’s asked to do to get back on the floor I think is excessive IMO. He’s not the person that’s being portrayed of him.”
If he serves a five-game suspension, Irving could be obtainable to play on November 13 towards the Lakers in Los Angeles.
