There has been a lot of chatter around the NBA recently about the future of Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving. We are witnessing something unprecedented as Irving is currently suspended in part because he shared anti-semitic media on his social media and then refused to denounce anti-semitism and that he doesn’t condone it.
It has been a whirlwind of a few weeks and no one genuinely knows how things will turn out. Irving was suspended for at least five games, but the consensus is that he will be sidelined for much longer than that.
While his apology on Instagram was noted as a good first step, the organization wants to see more. The Nets have laid out a step-by-step plan for Irving to accomplish before he will be considered for return.
There are reports that the six-step list was made in part by Brooklyn because they have knowledge that Irving will not complete all of them. If that is the case, then a straightforward release from the team could be in his future.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving & Brooklyn Nets Updates
That would be quite an ending to Irving’s Nets tenure, which has been marred by controversy after controversy. Despite possessing all-world basketball skills, Irving has spent more time on the sidelines away from the team than on the court helping them win games.
If Irving is ultimately released from the Nets, what would be the next step in his career? One NBA executive that took part in a poll on The Athletic believes that Irving’s career could very well be over.
“I think Kyrie might not play in the NBA again,” said another general manager.
That would be a wild turn of events, but it is certainly within the realm of possibility. The last player we saw caught up in an anti-semitic whirlwind was Meyers Leonard. He was more apologetic and sincere than Irving was after using an anti-semitic slur while streaming video games. Alas, he has not sniffed the NBA since the Miami Heat traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder and they subsequently released him.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Could that be the same path Irving goes down in the near future? We will have to wait and see. Franchises have shown time and time again that they will put aside morals in the name of winning more games.
Irving is certainly talented enough to win on the court, but given how much baggage comes with Irving, how much of a beating is the franchise willing to take off of it? That is what we will find out in the coming days, weeks and months.
