What did NBA commissioner Adam Silver say about his conversation with Nets star Kyrie Irving?

Following a tumultuous week, in which he was suspended by his team, he saw his relationship with Nike put on ice and in general faced a whole ton of backlash, the Nets star finally had a face-to-face meeting with the League’s commissioner.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver meets with Kyrie Irving

According to comments made after his meeting with Nets star Kyrie Irving, NBA commissioner Adam Silver does not believe that Kyrie Irving is antisemitic. Irving is of course still serving a team-mandated suspension for his part in the posting of a link to a film that contained antisemitic material and then subsequently declining to apologize for doing so in a timely manner.

“We had a direct and candid conversation,” Silver said of his talk with Irving, via The New York Times. “He’s someone I’ve known for a decade, and I’ve never heard an antisemitic word from him or, frankly, hate directed at any group.” It’s worth mentioning here, that despite Silver’s belief in Irving damage has most definitely been done, something which the commissioner acknowledged. “Whether or not he is antisemitic is not relevant to the damage caused by the posting of hateful content,” Silver said.

Adam Silver believes Kyrie Irving’s punishment was fair

As we now know, it was not the league that took the decision to punish Irving, but rather the Brooklyn Nets themselves, something that Silver believes was fair. “I feel that we got to the right outcome here in terms of his suspension,” Silver said. “And in retrospect, we may have been able to get there faster. I accept that criticism. But I felt it was important to understand the context in which it was posted to understand what discipline was appropriate, not in any way to excuse it but to understand what discipline was appropriate.”

Irving was handed a minimum five-game suspension without pay and additionally asked to meet a list of six requirements in order to be reinstated to the team. Those requirements included apologizing and condemning the film he posted, as well as the completion of a course in sensitivity training. Silver spoke on the team’s requirements saying, “I think that what I understand where things stand is the Nets are looking to make this into a partnership between them and Kyrie as to what remediation is appropriate. Because what is most important here is that the remorse be truly authentic and genuine. And I think that will best come by conditions that are agreed to upon as opposed to imposed on him.”

What’s the situation with Kyrie Irving here and now?

While the scenario Irving faced in the wake of the controversy was distinctly less severe than that faced by Kanye West some weeks earlier for his own antisemitic fiasco, the Nets star has most definitely felt the consequences of his actions. In addition to his team-imposed sanction, he’s also seen his contract with Nike terminated. With that said, Irving has since issued an apology via his Instagram account. “To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize,” Irving wrote.” ...I am learning from this unfortunate event and hope we can find understanding between us all.” What happens from here is anybody’s guess, but we’re not so sure that Irving’s future with the Nets is secure.