PLAYERS DISCUSS IRVING

Lakers star LeBron James and Deni Avdija, a Wizards forward from Israel, say they hoped Nets guard Kyrie Irving understood that he had hurt people when he promoted an antisemitic film on social media.

On Thursday, the Nets suspended Irving for at least five games, after he would not say he did not have antisemitic beliefs.

“I believe what Kyrie did caused some harm to a lot of people,” James said. “If you are promoting or soliciting or saying harmful things to any community that harm people, then I don’t respect it. I don’t condone it.”