LeBron James calls for Kyrie Irving’s Nets suspension to be CANCELLED after he apologized – and says making him take steps like meeting with Jewish leaders before he can return is ‘excessive’ after his anti-Semitic tweet
- LeBron James has shown some support for ex-teammate Kyrie Irving Thursday
- James’s former Cavaliers colleague is under indefinite suspension from the Nets
- Irving was suspended following a perceived inadequate apology for posting a link to an Amazon documentary with anti-Semitic messaging to his Twitter
- James has said the Nets’ protocol for Irving’s return is, in his mind, ‘excessive’Â
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LeBron James has belatedly thrown his support behind former teammate and embattled Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving.
Irving is currently under suspension and faces a laundry list of actions to complete before he is to be considered eligible to return to the Nets organization.Â
James failed to support Irving when asked about the situation last week, but took time out of his rehab to tweet his latest thoughts.Â
‘I told you guys that I don’t believe in sharing hurtful information,’ James began Thursday.Â
‘And I’ll continue to be that way but Kyrie apologized and he should be able to play. That’s what I think. It’s that simple. Help him learn- but he should be playing.Â
‘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. Anyways back to my rehab session.’
LeBron James tweeted out his support of Kyrie Irving despite contrasting recent commentary
Irving was suspended by Brooklyn for failing to, in their eyes, adequately apologize for sharing a link to an Amazon documentary which is said to have anti-Semitic messaging.
Less than a week ago, James — often thought be a leader of thought in some circles — had a completely different opinion on the latest saga surrounding Irving.Â
‘I don’t condone any hate to any kind,’ James said at a Lakers press conference. ‘To any race. To Jewish communities, to Black communities, to Asian communities. You guys know where I stand.’
James acknowledged Irving’s apology but insisted that he did not condone ‘harmful’ speech.Â
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‘He caused some harm, and I think it’s unfortunate,’ James said. ‘But I don’t stand on the position to harm people when it comes to your voice or your platform or anything.Â
‘So it doesn’t matter what color your skin is, how tall you are, what position you’re in. 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.
‘I believe what Kyrie did cause some harm to a lot of people.’ While James hasn’t shifted from this position, he does not believe the rules set out for Irving’s potential return are warranted.Â
The Nets outlined six conditions to Irving that he must complete before he is back in the team, after suspending him for a minimum of five games on November 3.Â
Irving caught heat for posting a link to the film ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America’
Irving apologized for linking to the video last Thursday – after the Nets had suspended himÂ
Step one – an apology for linking to the movie – appears to have already been completed with the statement he posted on Instagram on last Thursday night, following his suspension.
Irving must also complete the anti-hate causes the Nets first mentioned on November 2. It included a $500,000 donation to the Anti-Defamation League.
The third step would see Irving complete sensitivity training and step four would be to complete anti-Semitic and hate training – both of which are created by the Nets.
Step five would see Irving meet with Jewish community leaders in Brooklyn and then, in step six, Irving would meet with Nets owner Joe Tsai to demonstrate what The Athletic reported would be ‘the lessons learned and that the gravity of the harm caused is understood.’
The Nets superstar has long considered himself a deep-thinker and a ‘voice for the voiceless’
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