NBA commissioner will meet with Kyrie Irving, expresses disappointment

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Thursday he is disappointed Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving “has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize.”

It was the NBA’s harshest condemnation of Irving since the star promoted a “documentary” filled with antisemitism and fabrications, and it was the first time a statement from the league regarding the issue mentioned Irving by name.

Silver said he will also meet with Irving in the next week to “discuss the situation.”

“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material,” Silver said in the statement.

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Irving has been under fire since his post on social media last week and his subsequent refusal to back down from promoting the film titled ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America.’ 

On Wednesday, the Nets and Irving announced a $1 million donation – $500,000 each – to organizations that strive to ‘eradicate hate and intolerance.”

‘I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” Irving said in a joint statement with the Nets and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). 

He continued: ‘I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light.’

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt