Danny Avdia and Roy Hachimura in a shooting competition at Washington practice (from Twitter)
A day after the reports that Kyrie Irving is expected to return from suspension and participate in the Brooklyn Nets' game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the 30-year-old center issued an apology this evening (Saturday) for the first time for the act that drew punishment against him: promoting an anti-Semitic film through a link on Twitter.
Irving clarified in an interview with "SNY": "I have no hatred in my heart for Jews or for any person who identifies as a Jew. I am not anti-Jewish or anything like that. It was difficult to sit at home with my family who saw all this and asked questions. The easy part was to explain myself, because I know who I am and what I represent, but the difficulty was in the process of digesting all of this, understanding the power that my voice has and the influence that I have. I am no one's idol, but I am a human being who wants to influence and cause change. I apologize not only to the Jewish community , but also to my relatives, because they know that I stand for bigger things."
As you remember, the Nets star was at the center of the storm in the last three weeks.
Quite a few past and present players in the NBA, including Danny Avdia, criticized him for the act that led Nike to cancel his contract and Brooklyn to suspend him until he meets a series of conditions.
At first Irving insisted on not apologizing and denying that he has anti-Semitic views, but in the end he retracted and now he is expected to return to activity, at least until the new affair.
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