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After allegations of anti-Semitism: NBA star Kyrie Irving loses contract with sporting goods manufacturer Nike

2022-11-05T09:54:22.421Z


NBA star Kyrie Irving has been suspended by his club for anti-Semitic comments. His apology came too late: Nike also interrupted the collaboration and stopped the release of its basketball shoe.


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Kyrie Irving has been with the Brooklyn Nets since 2019

Photo: IMAGO/Wendell Cruz/IMAGO/USA TODAY Network

American sporting goods manufacturer Nike has suspended its collaboration with Brooklyn Nets basketball star Kyrie Irving with immediate effect, the company announced on Friday.

His club suspended Irving for at least five games after failing to fully distance himself from allegations of anti-Semitism.

"We are deeply saddened and disappointed by this situation and its impact on everyone involved," Nike said in a statement.

The controversial basketball star has his own shoe from the sporting goods manufacturer, which many other NBA players also wear.

The eighth edition, the "Kyrie 8", Nike will not bring to the market, it said.

That was scheduled for November 8th.

According to the US broadcaster ESPN, the contract between Nike and Irving runs until October 1, 2023. The group initially left open whether Nike will completely end its cooperation with the basketball player.

The 30-year-old had shared a link to the film entitled »Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America«, which the US media classified as racist and misogynistic, homophobic and Islamophobic, via Twitter.

Following his suspension, the star posted a statement on Instagram, apologizing extensively for promoting the film, which he said contained "false anti-Semitic statements."

No salary for Irving during suspension

The late remorse is likely to cost the point guard dearly: he not only loses the income from the Nike deal and the suspended release of the basketball shoe »Kyrie 8«.

The Nets will also not pay him a salary during his suspension.

However, it is undisputed that he can afford the financial loss.

Irving has a $36.9 million contract this season after earning nearly $195 million over the previous 11 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Nets, according to Basketball-Reference.com.

FBI warns of threats to Jews in New Jersey

Irving's suspension and apology follow controversy sparked by rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who was banned from social media platforms last month for posts online users condemned as anti-Semitic.

Irving's social media posts aren't the first time he's stirred up controversy in the NBA.

In the 2021-22 season, he played just 29 of the Nets' 82 regular-season games after refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19 despite a request from the city of New York.

The Brooklyn Nets meanwhile won the first game in the North American basketball professional league NBA after Irving's suspension.

On Friday (local time) the Nets won the Washington Wizards 128:86 (69:57).

see/rtr/dpa

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2022-11-05

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