Followers sporting “Battle Antisemitism” shirts occupied some courtside seats on the Brooklyn-Indiana sport on Monday night time, days after Nets guard Kyrie Irving tweeted out a hyperlink to a movie that features anti-Jewish tropes.
Irving posted the hyperlink to the movie “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” on Twitter on Thursday. The synopsis on Amazon mentioned the movie “uncovers the true identification of the Kids of Israel.”
He defended his determination to take action on Saturday, then deleted the tweet Sunday after a large outcry together with criticism from Nets proprietor Joe Tsai and the the Anti-Defamation League, together with an announcement from the NBA denouncing all types of hate speech.
Irving mentioned Saturday he embraced all religions and defiantly defended his proper to submit no matter he believes.
“I’m not going to face down on something I imagine in,” Irving mentioned. “I’m solely going to get stronger as a result of I’m not alone. I’ve an entire military round me.”
Nets coach Steve Nash mentioned Monday that he appears to be like on the matter as “a chance for us to develop and perceive new views.”
“I believe the group is attempting to take that stance or they could talk by way of this, and attempt to all come out in a greater place and with extra understanding and extra empathy for each aspect of this debate and state of affairs,” Nash mentioned.
Irving has beforehand supported the thought of the Earth being flat, lately shared an previous clip from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and was unavailable for many of the Nets’ residence video games final season as a result of he refused to be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, as was mandated in New York Metropolis.
The Nets then declined to provide him a contract extension this summer time, that means Irving could possibly be in his closing season with the crew.