Kevin Durant reacts to the Kyrie Irving-Nets situation
Kevin Durant speaks during morning shootaround in Washington D.C. on Nov. 4, 2022. Credit: Newsday/Barbara Barker
WASHINGTON D.C. -- A weary-looking Kevin Durant called the events of the past week that led to teammate Kyrie Irving's suspension "an unfortunate situation" that "just [stinks] all around for everybody."
Durant, who said he hadn’t spoken to Irving since the team suspended him in the wake of his promotion of an antisemitic movie, spoke to reporters after the team's shootaround here Friday morning. Durant initially seemed conflicted when talking about the situation with his good friend whom he came to the Nets with.
“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. “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.”
The Nets suspended Irving for at least five games without pay on Thursday night.
When asked if he thought suspension was fair, Durant said: “I believe and trust in the organization to do what’s fair.”
Shortly after the press conference, Durant tweeted a clarification to his comments.
"Just wanna clarify the statements I made at shootaround, I see some people are confused," Durant tweeted. "I don’t condone hate speech or antisemitism, I’m about spreading love always. Our game Unites people and I wanna make sure that’s at the forefront."
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
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.
