NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says there is ‘no doubt’ that Kyrie Irving is not anti-Semitic

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said he has ‘no doubt’ Kyrie Irving is anti-Semitic but added the Nets star’s return to the court for Brooklyn would be orchestrated ‘in consultation with the league.’

Irving is currently serving a five-plus game suspension after sharing an anti-Semitic film to his Twitter page and refusing to answer whether he held anti-Semitic beliefs in a subsequent press availability with reporters.

And since the team released an angry statement last week saying Irving was ‘currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets,’ the star has had his work cut out for him in order to possibly return to the court.

Part of that process was apparently meeting with Silver this week, with the commissioner telling the New York Times that the pair had a ‘direct and candid conversation.’ 

‘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 said.

While Silver admitted that Irving could have been suspended more quickly – he continued playing in games after his initial promotion of  ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America’ – Silver also placed blame on Amazon for hosting the film on its site.

Adam Silver said Kyrie Irving caused ‘damage’ with his words – even if he’s not anti-Semitic

Silver, who is Jewish, also made sure to note that even if Irving wasn’t anti-Semitic in his view, his actions were still hugely problematic.

‘Whether or not he is anti-Semitic is not relevant to the damage caused by the posting of hateful content,’ he said.

In their statement suspending Irving, the Nets said the guard would not return until he ‘satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct.’

Kyrie Irving will need to satisfy certain measures if he is to return to the court for the Nets

The details of those measures have become clearer in recent days, with The Athletic reporting Irving would need to undergo both sensitivity training and anti-Semitism training, as well as meeting with local Jewish community leaders, among other items reaching six in total.

The Nets reportedly were also looking for an apology from Irving for his actions, and the guard did so last Thursday – for the first time – after he was suspended.

Silver said the Nets and Irving are looking to approach the process as a ‘partnership.’

‘Because what is most important here is that the remorse be truly authentic and genuine,’ he said. ‘And I think that will best come by conditions that are agreed to upon as opposed to imposed on him.’

The film shared by Irving, claimed – among other dangerous ideas – that ‘many famous high-ranking Jews have admitted to worshipping Satan or Lucifer.’

The 30-year-old has not played since November 1 against the Bulls and has missed the last four Nets contests.