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NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned he has “little doubt” that Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving just isn’t antisemitic after the 2 had what Silver known as “a direct and candid dialog” earlier this week on the league’s headquarters in New York.
Silver, who’s Jewish, made his remarks in an interview with the New York Occasions on Thursday, two weeks after Irving made a controversial publish that included a hyperlink to a movie containing antisemitic concepts.
Irving’s publish obtained huge backlash, together with the Nets suspending him for at the least 5 video games and Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight saying Thursday that the shoe firm’s relationship with Irving is probably going severed for good.
“He is somebody I’ve recognized for a decade, and I’ve by no means heard an antisemitic phrase from him or, frankly, hate directed at any group,” Silver instructed the Occasions.
Silver added: “Whether or not or not he’s antisemitic just isn’t related to the injury brought on by the posting of hateful content material.”
Silver acknowledged to the Occasions that criticism the league and the Nets obtained for not disciplining Irving sooner “could also be truthful.” Irving was suspended by the Nets on Nov. 3, one week after he posted his tweet, after he did not formally apologize throughout a information convention earlier within the day. Irving issued an apology in an Instagram publish later that night time.
“I really feel that we bought to the suitable consequence right here by way of his suspension,” Silver mentioned. “And looking back, we could have been in a position to get there sooner. I settle for that criticism. However I felt it was necessary to grasp the context during which it was posted to grasp what self-discipline was acceptable, not in any solution to excuse it however to grasp what self-discipline was acceptable.”
Silver mentioned the league needed to do “a bit of labor and analysis to grasp” Irving’s publish earlier than deciding proceed. That included Silver himself watching the movie.
“As soon as we did that investigation, it was clear to me that this was certainly hate speech and we, along with the Brooklyn Nets, did reply,” Silver mentioned.
Irving has missed 4 video games because of his suspension and may very well be eligible to return Sunday towards the Los Angeles Lakers, although it’s unclear when the Nets will reinstate him.
Silver mentioned the Nets will determine when Irving can return in session with the NBA.
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