Nets Suspend Kyrie Irving For Five Games + No Pay Over ‘Failure To Disavow Antisemitism’ 

NBA player Kyrie Irving attends The Summer Of Jeep at South Street Seaport on August 21, 2014 in New York City
Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Jeep
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Kyrie Irving is in hot water right now.

The NBA player is suspended for at least five games, without pay, after refusing to apologize to the NBA over his recent comments. Kyrie tweeted a link to a documentary criticized as antisemitic and then defended his decision to do so.

CNN reports, “The Nets said they were ‘dismayed’ on Thursday [Nov. 3] when Irving ‘refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film,’ during a media session.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver urged Kyrie to apologize, but he didn’t. As a result, the Nets said Kyrie is “currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.” In a statement, the Nets said, 

“We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity — but failed — to clarify.” It continues,

“Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.”