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ADL Says It Can't Accept Kyrie Irving's $500K Donation 'in Good Conscience'

Nov 4, 2022
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving looks out during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving looks out during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

The Anti-Defamation League won't be accepting the $500,000 donation Kyrie Irving planned to make in the wake of his decision to promote an antisemitic piece of media.

The ADL's CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, released the following statement:

His statement came on the same day the Nets suspended Irving for a minimum of five games without pay for his refusal to apologize or outright denounce antisemitism in the past few days.

The Nets, Irving and ADL had previously released a joint statement in which both Irving and the organization committed to donating $500,000 each to "causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities."

Irving shared a link last week to the 2018 film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America. According to Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein, it is a "purported documentary" that is "stuffed with antisemitic tropes" and "ideas in line with more extreme factions of the Black Hebrew Israelites, which have a long history of misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and especially antisemitism."

Rather than apologize for sharing the link, however, Irving pushed back against the backlash he's received.

"Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody, did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people?" he said to reporters Saturday. "It's on Amazon, a public platform, whether you want to go watch it or not, is up to you. There's things being posted every day. I'm no different than the next human being, so don't treat me any different."

He doubled down on that stance Thursday:

"I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement Thursday. "I will be meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss this situation."

Irving later apologized in an Instagram statement on Thursday night.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Criticizes Kyrie Irving for Promotion of Antisemitic Film

Nov 4, 2022
FILE - This Jan. 24, 2017, file photo, shows former NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a sports and activism panel entitled "From Protest to Progress: Next Steps" in San Jose, Calif. Adam Abdul-Jabbar, the son of basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was charged Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in California with stabbing a neighbor with a hunting knife during an argument over trash cans. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
FILE - This Jan. 24, 2017, file photo, shows former NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a sports and activism panel entitled "From Protest to Progress: Next Steps" in San Jose, Calif. Adam Abdul-Jabbar, the son of basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was charged Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in California with stabbing a neighbor with a hunting knife during an argument over trash cans. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Basketball Hall of Famer, author and activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the latest public figure to condemn Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving in the wake of his posts promoting an antisemitic film, defending his positions and refusing to apologize for his actions in the ensuing days.

"Honestly, there's little hope that [Irving] will change because he's insulated by fame and money and surrounded by yes-people," Abdul-Jabbar wrote on his Substack. "There is no motivation to learn how to distinguish propaganda from facts. All that’s left is for the world to decide how it should respond to him."

Irving has since been suspended by the Nets for at least five games without pay.

A host of public figures have taken Irving to task, including Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley.

In talks with reporters since the post, Irving has not apologized nor explicitly stated that he does not hold antisemitic beliefs.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver also expressed his disappointment in Irving. He called his actions "reckless" and noted that he planned to meet with him soon.

As for Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time scoring leader wrote that Irving "has been defiant" about his post.

"You can read his long, rambling, at times contradictory defense here," Abdul-Jabbar wrote. "Mostly he reveals his lack of awareness of how history works. It’s not an all-you-can-eat buffet from which you can pluck just the dishes you like without any understanding of the context."

Irving is in his 12th NBA season and fourth with the Nets. He serves as one of seven vice presidents for the NBPA, which also put out a statement condemning hate speech without specifically naming Irving.

Kyrie Irving Suspended by Nets for at Least 5 Games After Promoting Antisemitic Film

Nov 3, 2022
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

The Brooklyn Nets have suspended Kyrie Irving for no fewer than five games after he promoted an antisemitic film on his social media accounts and was unapologetic when given multiple chances to address the situation.

The team released a statement saying, in part, it has "made repeated attempts to work with Kyrie Irving to help him understand the harm and danger of his words and actions. We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs."

Brooklyn's statement emphasizes Irving's failure to apologize or even make clear he isn't antisemitic during a head-turning media session Thursday.

The guard was asked whether he holds "antisemitic beliefs" and didn't provide a direct answer.

"I don't know how the label becomes justified because you guys ask me the same questions over and over again, but this is not gonna turn into a spin-around cycle of questions upon questions," he said. "I told you guys how I felt. I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That's where I sit."

He was then asked for a simple "yes" or "no" answer to the question and said, "I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from."

Irving eventually apologized in a statement released late Thursday night:

The consequential media session came after the Nets, Irving and the Anti-Defamation League released a joint statement Wednesday saying the team and player will each donate $500,000 in an effort to "eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities."

As part of that statement, Irving accepted what he called "responsibility" but did not directly say he was sorry:

"I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day. I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light."

Yet Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reported Wednesday that Irving had not spoken with the ADL and instead sent his father and stepmother to meet with the organization.

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said the organization would not accept the donation:

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement Thursday that said he planned to meet with Irving after his "reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material."

The statement also made it clear Silver was "disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize."

This primarily stems from social media posts in which Irving promoted the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.

Dan Wolken of USA Today noted it is "a film that suggests modern-day Jews stole the religion and identity of the original Israelites, leading to the enslavement of Africans who were brought to America."

As Pablo Torre of ESPN pointed out, one of the unfounded claims included in the film is the idea that the death of 6 million Jewish people in the Holocaust is one of the "five major falsehoods" pushed by the "Jewish controlled media."

This is not the first time Irving will miss time because of off-the-court choices, as he was sidelined for extended stretches last season because he remained unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Nets' Kyrie Irving Addresses Promotion of Antisemitic Film, Doesn’t Apologize

Nov 3, 2022
Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving again avoided apologizing for promoting an antisemitic film on social media.

Irving spoke with reporters Thursday and was asked directly whether he was "sorry for the hurt that your posts caused people."

"I take my responsibility for posting that," he responded. "Some things that were questionable in there, untrue. Like I said the first time you guys asked me when I was sitting on that stage, I don't believe everything that everybody posts. It's a documentary. I take my responsibility."

Irving added he "didn't mean to cause any harm" and noted he wasn't the person who made the film.

That echoes what he said in a statement issued as part of a joint announcement made by him, the Nets and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday.

"I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” he said. “I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility."

Not only did that stop short of an unequivocal apology, but Irving also added he "[does] not believe everything said in the documentary was true," which suggests he did believe some of what was portrayed.

Among the unfounded claims in the book Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America is based on is the assertion the death of six million Jews in the Holocaust is one of the "five major falsehoods" espoused by the "Jewish controlled media in America."

The Southern Poverty Law Center notes that Holocaust denial "has long been an essential manifestation of antisemitism in the radical right."

Irving was asked pointedly Thursday whether he has any "antisemitic beliefs" and provided an evasive answer.

"I don't know how the label becomes justified because you guys ask me the same questions over and over again, but this is not gonna turn into a spin-around cycle of questions upon questions," he said. "I told you guys how I felt. I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That's where I sit."

When Irving was asked again for a "yes" or "no" to the initial question, he responded, "I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from."

Following Thursday's comments, the Nets suspended Irving for "no less than five games," noting he "refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film":

The New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy reported Wednesday that Irving's father and stepmother had spoken with ADL officials following the posts and the point guard's comments since then. According to Bondy, the seven-time All-Star wasn't at the meeting.

Asked whether he had met with the ADL, Irving told reporters Thursday the matter was "handled" but didn't specify whether he met with any ADL representatives.

Both Irving and the Nets have pledged to donate $500,000 each "toward causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities" and committed to work with the ADL on "educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of antisemitism and bigotry."

However, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said Thursday the organization would not accept Irving's money:

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also announced Thursday he intends to meet with Irving in person and said that the veteran point guard "made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material."

Adam Silver Says Kyrie Irving Made a 'Reckless Decision' Promoting Antisemitic Film

Nov 3, 2022
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 18: Commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver is seen at the Champions Ring Night Ceremony before NBA game between Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers at the Chase Center on October 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 18: Commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver is seen at the Champions Ring Night Ceremony before NBA game between Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers at the Chase Center on October 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed he plans to meet with Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving to discuss Irving's decision to share a link to an antisemitic film on social media.

"Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material," Silver said in a league statement Thursday. "While we appreciate the fact he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize."

In a since-deleted tweet on Oct. 27, Irving drew the attention of his Twitter followers to the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America. In the movie and the book upon which it's based, it's claimed the death of six million Jews during the Holocaust is one of the "five major falsehoods" forwarded by the "Jewish controlled media in America."

According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Holocaust deniers "engage in this activity to reduce perceived public sympathy to Jews, to undermine the legitimacy of the State of Israel, to plant seeds of doubt about Jews and the Holocaust, and to draw attention to particular issues or viewpoints."

Nets majority governor Joe Tsai tweeted he was "disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation" the day after Irving's post.

Irving responded a day later and said he "meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs."

Following the Nets' 125-116 loss to the Indiana Pacers, however, the seven-time All-Star pushed back when asked about sharing the film through his Twitter account. He stated he was "not going to stand down on anything that I believe in" and took issue with the notion he promoted the movie by linking it out without comment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56bwE_Lfw_I

The Nets issued a statement in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday to say they and Irving pledged to donate $500,000 each "toward causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities."

For some, the announcement didn't go far enough toward remedying the problems Irving had caused.

It's unclear whether the 30-year-old actually met with officials from the ADL. The New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy reported his father, Drederick, and stepmother/agent, Shetellia, recently spoke with the ADL without Irving.

Irving didn't offer a direct apology in the joint statement, either.

"I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” he said. “I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility."

Irving acknowledged he does not "believe everything said in the documentary" nor does he feel that all the material reflects his "morals and principles." However, the lack of a full apology or context about his thoughts on the film have led to questions over which aspects of it he does believe.

As Silver's statement illustrates, the Nets' announcement Wednesday likely won't be the last word on the matter

Report: Nets Never Made 'Substantial Contact' with Quin Snyder After Steve Nash Exit

Nov 3, 2022
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 28: Head Coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz talks to the media after Round 1 Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks on April 28, 2022 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 28: Head Coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz talks to the media after Round 1 Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks on April 28, 2022 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets reportedly didn't make much of an attempt to gauge former Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder's interest in the team's head coaching job after firing Steve Nash this week.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, there was "no substantial contact" between the Nets and Snyder in terms of discussing the vacancy.

Instead, the expectation is that the Nets will hire suspended Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka as their new head coach. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that a formal announcement confirming Udoka as the team's next head coach was expected "soon."

For now, Jacque Vaughn is serving as the interim head coach of the Nets amid their disappointing 2-6 start.

Despite having a roster led by Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons, the Nets have been a nonfactor in the Eastern Conference so far this season.

They were more of a threat in the previous two seasons under Nash, but even then they performed below expectations with second- and first-round playoff exits.

The Nets hired Nash as the head coach in 2020 despite his lack of coaching experience, hoping that the two-time NBA MVP and Basketball Hall of Famer would be able to communicate effectively with the team's star players, but it never seemed to click.

If the Nets finalize the hiring of Udoka, they will bring back a coach who was on Nash's staff in Brooklyn during the 2021-22 season.

Udoka left the Nets to become head coach of the Celtics. He led Boston to a 51-31 record and reached the NBA Finals in his only year with the organization.

Shortly before the start of the 2022-23 campaign, Udoka was suspended for allegedly making unwanted comments toward a female staffer, and Joe Mazzulla was named the interim head coach.

Snyder seemingly would have been worth heavy consideration. Before resigning from his position during the offseason, Snyder was head coach of the Jazz for eight seasons.

During his tenure, Snyder posted a 372-264 record and led Utah to the playoffs in each of the past six seasons.

The biggest knock against Snyder was a lack of playoff success, as the Jazz failed to make it beyond the second round during his time as head coach.

If the Nets are indeed off the table, Snyder may have to wait to see what jobs are available to him next offseason.

NBA Twitter Blasts Knicks for Blowing 23-Point Lead vs. Hawks

Nov 3, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 02, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 02, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks were beating the Atlanta Hawks 51-28 midway through the second quarter. Their defense was ferocious, and a balanced offense had the Hawks on their heels.

Everything after that point was an abject failure for a Knicks team that has now lost three straight.

Atlanta scored 29 points in the final 6:21 of the first half to cut the Knicks' lead to 65-57 at halftime. The Hawks then took complete control in the third quarter, where they outscored the Knicks 32-10 en route to a 112-99 victory. The Knicks had as many turnovers as points in the third quarter alone.

At one point, the Hawks had outscored the Knicks 79-37 over a 25-minute stretch.

The Knicks simply had no answer for Dejounte Murray, who dropped 36 points on 14-of-27 shooting and nine assists while amassing six of the Hawks' 12 steals. His performance helped the Hawks overcome a cold night from Knicks arch-nemesis Trae Young, who shot 7-of-22 en route to 17 points.

The Hawks notably put up 16 more shots than the Knicks in part because they grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and committed just seven turnovers to New York's 16.

The Knicks' best effort came off the bench thanks to Immanuel Quickley, who posted 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Evan Fournier (three points on 1-of-6 shooting) and Julius Randle (14 points on 4-of-12 shooting) notably struggled for the starting five.

This was a deeply concerning loss for the Knicks, who were coming off a 121-108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers after being outscored 37-15 in the final quarter. They've lost each of their last three games by double digits to the Milwaukee Bucks, Cavs and Hawks, all of whom have playoff aspirations.

It's a far cry from the Knicks' three-game win streak earlier this season against a trio of losing teams in the Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets.

Twitter took the Knicks to task for their collapse.

https://twitter.com/Jasonyc777/status/1587979721224212482

The Knicks will look to bounce back Friday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 p.m. ET in Wells Fargo Center.

Kyrie Irving Takes Responsibility for Antisemitic Post; PG, Nets to Donate $500K Each

Nov 3, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on from the bench during the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on November 01, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on from the bench during the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on November 01, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving and the Anti-Defamation League released a joint statement on Wednesday following Irving's social media posts containing a link to an antisemitic film last week.

The statement included a pledge by the Nets and Irving to donate $500,000 each to "causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities."

https://twitter.com/HowardBeck/status/1587949733213085704

Irving provided a statement:

I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day. I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light.

Irving shared a link to the 2018 film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, a "purported documentary" that is "stuffed with antisemitic tropes," falsehoods and "ideas in line with more extreme factions of the Black Hebrew Israelites, which have a long history of misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and especially antisemitism," per Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein.

Irving was not contrite when discussing his posts during a contentious postgame press conference Saturday.

"Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody, did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people?" he said to reporters. "It's on Amazon, a public platform, whether you want to go watch it or not, is up to you. There's things being posted every day. I'm no different than the next human being, so don't treat me any different."

Nets governor Joe Tsai decried Irving's decision, however:

And Irving wasn't made available to reporters after Monday's 108-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Neither the Nets or the NBA have taken disciplinary action against Irving, which raised some eyebrows around the NBA community.

"I think he should have been suspended him," Charles Barkley said during Monday's Inside the NBA. "I think Adam [Silver] should have suspended him."

"I think the NBA, they made a mistake," he added. "We've suspended people and fined people who have made homophobic slurs. And that was the right thing to do. If you insult the Black community, you should be suspended or fined heavily."

NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving Is 'Radioactive'; 'Baggage Is Just Too Much' to Be Traded

Nov 2, 2022
BROOKLYN, NY - NOVEMBER 1: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on November 1, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - NOVEMBER 1: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on November 1, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kyrie Irving's trade value appears to be at an all-time low.

ESPN's Zach Lowe said on his The Lowe Post podcast on Wednesday (around the 25-minute mark) that Irving is considered "radioactive" around the NBA:

I talked to a lot of people around the league over the weekend, and the sense I get right now is he's radioactive. Even if you drop the price to nothing, the baggage is just too much. And you want to talk about how the Lakers are the most desperate team in the league. All right, the Lakers also play in a gigantic cosmopolitan city. All of the residents are following this story. I just don't know what else they're supposed to do except try to salvage and you're telling me it's unsalvageable.

The combination of Irving's general unreliability throughout his career and his looming free agency already had his trade value far lower than it normally might be for a player of his immense talent. But Irving's decision to share a link to an antisemitic film on social media last week likely further fueled the reluctance of NBA teams to consider pursuing him via a trade.

It didn't help that Irving defended his decision publicly.

"Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody, did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people?" Irving said during a contentious press conference following Saturday's game. "It's on Amazon, a public platform. Whether you want to go watch it or not is up to you. There's things being posted every day. I'm no different than the next human being, so don't treat me any different."

The Nets and team governor Joe Tsai spoke out against Irving's posts, however.

“The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech,” the team said in a statement to CNN. "We believe that in these situations, our first action must be open, honest dialogue. We thank those, including the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), who have been supportive during this time."

When Irving is on the court, he's been excellent, averaging 26.9 points, 5.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season. He's a seven-time All-Star, won the 2016 NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers and is one of the game's most talented scorers.

But his time in Brooklyn alongside Kevin Durant has not translated to the level of success that was expected, and the Nets have started this season at just 2-6, leading to the decision of the Nets and former head coach Steve Nash to part ways.

The Lakers, mired in a poor start of their own (1-5), were one of the main teams rumored to be in the Irving trade market over the summer. But even with all of the issues the Lakers have, trading for Irving may not be the sort of public relations the team is looking for.

Celtics' Marcus Smart Says Rumors of Ime Udoka to Nets Make 'No Sense'

Nov 2, 2022
MIAMI, FL - MAY 29: Head Coach Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics talks to Marcus Smart #36 during Game 7 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals on May 29, 2022 at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MAY 29: Head Coach Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics talks to Marcus Smart #36 during Game 7 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals on May 29, 2022 at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart won't be happy to see Ime Udoka coaching the Brooklyn Nets.

Udoka was suspended by the Celtics for one year as a result of an improper workplace relationship with a female subordinate, but he is now "likely" to take over as coach of the Nets, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"His name got slandered and slaughtered and it was 'He’ll probably never coach again,'" Smart said of Udoka Wednesday, per Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. "And a couple of months later, now he's possibly going to be the coach of one of our biggest rivals?"

"It's tough. It makes no sense," Smart added. "But we can’t control that. We have to control what we can, and I love the team here. I love the coaching staff. I love Joe."

Joe Mazzulla has served as the Celtics' interim coach this season and has guided the team to a 4-2 record.

The Celtics provided little information about the circumstances that led to Udoka's suspension, but Wojnarowski reported in late September that the coach likely had "a difficult pathway back to his reinstatement" after an independent probe from a law firm found "he used crude language in his dialogue with a female subordinate prior to the start of an improper workplace relationship with the woman."

NBA insider Ethan Strauss reported an NBA agent believed the coach was "done" in the league.

It creates significant question marks for the Nets if they hire Udoka.

"Obviously, we wish he was here," Smart said. "We have no control over that. It definitely sucks. I guess it was deemed that whatever happened was enough for him not to be the coach here, but I guess not enough for him [not] to be a coach anywhere else, obviously."

The Nets are seeking a new head coach after firing Steve Nash following a 2-5 start to the 2022-23 season. Jacque Vaughn served as acting coach for Tuesday's loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Udoka led the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals in his first year with the organization after serving as an assistant coach with the Nets in 2020-21.

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