Kevin Durant talks Kyrie Irving 'chaos,' blames media, then tweets clarification
WASHINGTON — Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant attempted to clarify on Twitter his comments to reporters about Kyrie Irving at the team’s morning shootaround Friday.
“It’s an unfortunate situation for who it impacted,” Durant said. “This situation, it just sucks all around for everybody. Hopefully, it will come to pass.”
Then Durant pointed the finger at the media. “It’s just the way the NBA is now, media, so many outlets now and their stories hit pretty fast now," Durant said. "So that's where all the chaos is coming from. Everybody has an opinion on the situation, and we're hearing it nonstop."
He added: “I’m not here to judge somebody or talk down on the life or how they feel their views. I just didn't like anything that went on. I felt like it was all unnecessary. I felt like we could have just kept playing basketball and kept quiet as an organization.”
After the interview and initial backlash that he didn’t condemn Irving’s comments, Durant posted on Twitter: “Just wanna clarify the statements I made at shootaround, I see some people are confused..I don’t condone hate speech or anti-semetism, (sic) I’m about spreading love always. Our game Unites people and I wanna make sure that’s at the forefront."
The controversy centered on Irving began last week when he promoted a film titled “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America,” a so-called documentary that is filled with antisemitism and fabrications.
The Nets on Thursday suspended Irving five games without pay for refusing to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity - but failed - to clarify,” the team said in a statement.
The Nets said Irving “is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.”
Irving offered a direct apology late Thursday, and the Nets said it was a first step to return from his suspension.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt