Last season, Dallas Mavericks All-Star Kyrie Irving was suspended for five games without pay after posting a link to a movie that spread anti-Semitic disinformation.
Breaking: The Nets have suspended Kyrie Irving without pay, the team announced.
The suspension will be for "no less than five games," the team said. pic.twitter.com/qCpVIc1yZC
— ESPN (@espn) November 3, 2022
The NBA star apparently didn’t learn from his mistake and caused controversy over the weekend when he showed up to a post-game press conference wearing a Keffiyeh.
From Fox News:
Irving spent four minutes talking to reporters after the team’s 132-125 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He had 39 points, four rebounds and six assists in the game.
He was not asked about the headwear. The keffiyeh is a black and white checkered scarf that has come to symbolize Palestinian solidarity, according to The Associated Press. Irving also posted a photo of himself wearing it as he toured the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington, D.C.
The NBA and the Mavericks didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Kyrie Irving highlighted some defensive breakdowns by the Dallas Mavericks, resulting in open 3s for timely makes by the Milwaukee Bucks:
"We did a good job coming out of halftime with that energy and verve we normally have. We were playing good defensive principals, and they… pic.twitter.com/lDVrPTOu02
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) November 19, 2023
Irving’s move sparked discussion on social media, with some praising him for having a “spine” to wear the scarf while others called him anti-Semitic.
The legend Kyrie Irving 🇵🇸🤍🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/FnuXCRRUB6
— عبدالعزيز بن سـعد (@Alkhaldi_A_S) November 19, 2023
🤷🏻♂️he is a proud ANTISEMITE..what is there to discuss? Nothing will happen to him he scored 39 points in a loss
— Happy Gilmore (@augustjanke4) November 20, 2023
Pro-Palestinian protesters in the U.S. have worn keffiyehs during their demonstrations, with some calling for the end of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza following the horrific terror attacks of Oct. 7.
The NBA released a statement on the terror attacks on Oct. 8.
“The NBA and NBPA mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and condemn these acts of terrorism. We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace for the entire region,” the league said.
Irving appeared to make a remark referencing the Israel-Hamas conflict in a post on X on Oct. 11.
“Where are all you tough talking Media Heads that get on TV and social platforms to condemn people who stand by the oppressed??” Irving wrote.
“Crimes are being committed against humanity and most of you are silent. Cat got your tongue? Or you’re afraid of actually standing for something real.”
Where are all you tough talking Media Heads that get on TV and social platforms to condemn people who stand by the oppressed??
Crimes are being committed against humanity and most of you are silent.
Cat got your tongue? Or you’re afraid of actually standing for something real— Chief Hélà 🤞🏾 (@KyrieIrving) October 11, 2023
Last October, Irving got into some hot water when he tweeted a link to an Amazon movie that spread anti-Semitic disinformation. The Brooklyn Nets later suspended him for five games after failing to issue an apology for sharing the movie and failing to “disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so.”
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