Kevin Durant publicly addressed Kyrie Irving’s suspension for the first time on Friday morning, saying that he is hopeful the Nets will be able to move past an “unfortunate situation.”
Irving was suspended by Brooklyn for at least five games after he repeatedly failed to apologize for a social media post that included a link to a film featuring antisemitic messaging. In their statement, the Nets said that Irving is “currently unfit to be associated” with the team.
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The star guard issued an apology on Instagram following the announcement of his suspension, saying that he “initially reacted out of emotion to being unjustly labeled antisemitic” and was “deeply sorry” to have hurt members of the Jewish community.
“I ain’t here to judge nobody or talk down on nobody for how they feel, their views or anything, it’s just — I just didn’t like anything that went on,” Durant said after Friday’s shootaround. “I feel like it was all unnecessary. I felt like we could have just kept playing basketball and kept quiet as an organization. I just don’t like none of it.”
Kevin Durant spoke about the distraction Kyrie Irving has caused this week at Nets shootaround: “I just didn’t like anything that went on. I felt like it was all unnecessary, I wish we could have just kept playing basketball.”
The Wizards play the Nets tonight on @NBCSWashington pic.twitter.com/8cwc9DRIiK
— Chase Hughes (@ChaseHughesNBCS) November 4, 2022
When asked whether he agreed with the front office’s decision to suspend Irving, Durant said that he trusts the Nets “to do what’s right.” Durant added that he didn’t speak to Irving after he posted the apology on Thursday night.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP later tweeted out a clarification of his previous comments.
“I don’t condone hate speech or antisemitism,” Durant said in the tweet. “I’m about spreading love always.”
Just wanna clarify the statements I made at shootaround, I see some people are confused..I don’t condone hate speech or anti-semetism, I’m about spreading love always. Our game Unites people and I wanna make sure that’s at the forefront
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) November 4, 2022
With Irving suspended and Ben Simmons injured, Durant will be forced to carry a heavy load for a Nets team that has lost six of its first eight games to start the 2022-23 season and already made a coaching change. Still, Durant is eager to turn his attention back to the game rather than what’s happening off the court.
“Everybody has an opinion on this situation, and we’re hearing it nonstop,” Durant said. “But once the balls start bouncing, and we get into practice, none of that stuff seeps into the gym. So, that’s the cool part about being in the league.
“But, once you step off the court, everybody’s got the microphones out and the microscopes [are] looking at you, asking you what you feel about it. That’s been difficult, but the game is the constant for us.”
