The NBA world has been taken by storm once again by Kyrie Irving. He is making headlines for all of the wrong reasons, something that he has become accustomed to in recent years.
Irving has been a hot topic of discussion more for things he does off the court than on it since he joined the Brooklyn Nets. Whether it was breaking the league’s health and safety protocols or deciding to not get the COVID-19 vaccine, deeming him ineligible, Irving has been a lightning rod for controversy.
His most recent incident is an indefensible one. Irving shared a video that shares anti-semitic views and quotes from Adolph Hitler; when you are endorsed as being a good person by Kanye West, you know you are doing something wrong. But, Irving hasn’t backed down and left the video up for multiple days.
It is something that many people have voiced strong opinions on. One of the people who believe that Irving isn’t being punished enough is Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. Earlier this week during the NBA on TNT, Barkley ripped into Irving for his actions.
“I think he [Irving] should have been suspended. I think Adam [Silver, the NBA commissioner] should have suspended him,” Barkley said on TNT Tuesday before Irving’s Nets faced off against the Chicago Bulls.
“First of all, Adam is Jewish. You can’t take my $40 million [Irving’s reported salary] and insult my religion.
“You’re going to insult me, you have the right, but I have the right to say no. You’re not going to take my $40 million and insult my religion. I think the NBA, they have made a mistake.”
There has been very little said by the NBA or the Nets in regard to what Irving has done. Originally, a weak, insincere statement was made and a donation will be given by the NBA and Irving, but that isn’t enough, which wasn’t ultimately accepted.
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Irving has stayed firm in his stance, much like he did when he decided to not get vaccinated. At that time, he said he wanted to be a voice for the voiceless. This time, he said he embraces everything and isn’t trying to be divisive.
“In terms of the backlash, we’re in 2022, history is not supposed to be hidden from anybody and I’m not a divisive person when it comes to religion, I embrace all walks of life,” Irving said.
The NBA Player’s Association also released a statement against hate speech and how it goes against everything that the league stands for. While that is likely true, their words hold no value as Irving is one of the Vice Presidents of the NBPA. Ultimately, the Nets suspended him for at least five games without pay “until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct.”
This is something that isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Players have been suspiciously quiet about it, which is disappointing after so many spoke out against the punishment that was levied against Robert Sarver.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Kyrie Irving & Brooklyn Nets Updates
While the incidents aren’t apples to apples, Meyers Leonard was fined, suspended, and essentially black-balled from the league for using an anti-semitic word while streaming a video game and offering an apology. He has not stepped on an NBA court since. Irving had continued playing like nothing wrong happened before his suspension but had numerous chances to apologize and opted not to do so.
