Irving’s return expected Sunday against Grizzlies
Suspension cost Brooklyn guard eight games
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving is expected to clear his suspension for Sunday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Irving, who missed his eighth consecutive game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday for “conduct detrimental to the team,” has reportedly gone “above and beyond” the criteria the Nets set for his return to the court after he posted the link to a film with antisemitic material on his social media feeds on Oct. 27.
“Kyrie is continuing his journey of dialogue and education,” players association executive director Tamika Tremaglio told ESPN. “He has been grappling with the full weight of the impact of his voice and actions, particularly in the Jewish community. Kyrie rejects antisemitism in any form, and he’s dedicated to bettering himself and increasing his level of understanding. He plans to continue this journey well into the future to ensure that his words and actions align with his pursuit of truth and knowledge.”
Irving has met with Jewish community leaders and
both the Nets and the league are satisfied with how he has approached his suspension, according to The Athletic. Irving has also met with Nets owner Joe Tsai and NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Both men, in separate statements, said they do not believe Irving is antisemitic.
Irving posted the link to the film/book “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” on both his Twitter and Instagram feeds in late October, and the post was immediately met with backlash, including a tweet from Tsai condemning Irving for posting the film.
Irving spoke to reporters twice after the post but only apologized after the Nets deemed him “unfit to be associated with the” organization for “failure to disavow antisemitism.”
Shortly after, sneaker giant Nike suspended its relationship with Irving indefinitely.
The Nets missed Irving on the court. After winning four out of the first five games they played without him, the Nets have lost two of three after holding on to beat Portland Thursday night, 109-107, behind 36 points and eight rebounds from Kevin Durant.
Still, Durant said before the win in Portland that the starting lineup as curr e n t l y constructed shouldn’t be expected to win many games.
“We miss Ky, miss his presence out there on the floor,” Durant said. “I’m looking forward to his return to the team. Definitely going to give us a much needed spark.”
Durant said Irving, who hasn’t played since Nov. 1, should be able to get up to speed quickly. Irving was averaging 26.9 points, 5.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game` before his suspension.
Saturday’s games
• Trae Young threw a long pass to hit A.J. Griffin for a wide-open layup at the overtime buzzer and the Atlanta Hawks, after rallying late in regulation, beat the Toronto Raptors 124-122.
• Mo Bamba missed a rebound tip-in with 1.9 seconds left and the Indiana Pacers escaped with a 114113 win against the Orlando Magic.
• Joel Embiid led a 76ers rally in the fourth quarter, but it fell short in a 112-109 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves that ended Philadelphia’s three-game winning streak. Embiid finished with 32 points for the 76ers, who were playing their game in two nights.