Kyrie Irving issues statement after re-joining Brooklyn Nets: “I don’t stand for anything close to hate speech or anti-Semitism”

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving returned from suspension against the Memphis Grizzlies. Reflecting on the comments that earned him the suspension, Irving issued an apology to the communities affected before the game.

The Brooklyn Nets star earned some degree of infamy after putting up a controversial post on social media. His tweet supported a movie propagating anti-Semitic sentiments, and Irving caught a lot of flak for it.

The subsequent fallout of the situation saw him face suspensions from the league as well as severance from Nike. While many speculated that this fallout would spell the end of Kyrie Irving's NBA career, the Nets gave him a chance to make amends.

Presenting him with a list of tasks that he had to fulfill in order to facilitate his return to the league, Irving set out on the path towards atonement.

Since then, the guard has fulfilled each and every item on the list. In doing so, he also secured his place back on the Nets roster as of Sunday night.

Irving's return to the NBA was a promising sight for Brooklyn. However, the guard understood that the delicate situation still needed clarification.

Prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Irving issued another apology to the communities that were hurt by his actions. He said:

"This is a moment in history that I'm going to remember forever just because of the impact that all of this has made on the world, cultures. Not just here in America, but abroad. Right now, we're just here to take in all the effort to make a more equal world. A more fair world.

"With all that being said I just want to call for my deepest apologies to all those who were impacted over these last few weeks. Specifically my Jewish relatives, my Black relatives, all races and cultures. I feel like we all felt the impact.

"And I don't stand for anything close to hate speech or anti-Semitism or anything that is anti going against the human race."

After meeting with leaders of the Jewish community, Irving gained a deeper understanding of his misgivings. By doing so, he appears to have taken a step in the right direction.

With the star regaining his spot in the Brooklyn Nets, the team see the return of a key player. On an upswing after a tumultuous start to the season, the Nets will hope to ride this momentum going forward.

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Kyrie Irving makes his timely return to the Brooklyn Nets

Kyrie Irving returned to the Brooklyn Nets in their matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night. Irving missed eight games due to the suspension. While several questions were raised about his return, nobody could pinpoint a date.

However, Nets superstar Kevin Durant mentioned that Irving maintained a positive outlook towards the situation and the process as well.

Kyrie Irving's return to the court was greeted by a 127-115 win for the Nets. The guard started and played 26 minutes. He notched 14 points and five rebounds to contribute to the win.