Celtics star Jaylen Brown finds it “alarming” how Nets owner Joe Tsai is handling Kyrie Irving’s suspension.
On Saturday, Tsai told The Post’s Brian Lewis that Irving “still has work to do” before he can return to the team, as the point guard is serving a suspension for a now-deleted social media post that appears to promote an anti-semitic film and book. However, there is no clear timetable for his return, which also requires completion of six requirements, including sensitivity training and meeting with Jewish leaders.
Brown retweeted Tsai’s quote, writing, “This response is alarming for multiple reasons.”
The All-Star forward — who as a vice president has already been vocal about issues the NBPA has with Irving’s suspension — reiterated his comment on Monday following the Celtics’ victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“[Tsai’s] response was alarming to me.” he said postgame. “He didn’t say that the organization was working together to get Kyrie back on the floor. He said that [Kyrie] had more work to do. And our society has more work to do, including Joe Tsai. It’s 2022. It takes 10 minutes of time to see who these business owners, corporations etc., who they’re associated with and who they’re doing business with, who they’re affiliated with.
“I’m vice president of the union, and it’s part of my job to protect our players legally. And to see [co-founder and chairman of Nike] Phil Knight first come out and condemn Kyrie, and also see Joe Tsai say he has more work to do, I think it’s time for a larger conversation.”
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown stands on the court during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Nov. 7, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. Getty Images
Joe Tsai, owner of the Brooklyn Nets, attends a game against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Getty ImagesBrown added that NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated that he doesn’t believe that Irving is anti-semitic, yet Irving is still suspended indefinitely.
“I think it’s uncharted territory,” he said when asked about what he believes the reaction to the situation should be. “I think it’s no distinction between what somebody says versus what somebody posts, and I guess that’s what they are trying to figure out. The terms that the Brooklyn Nets instituted for his return, I voiced my discomfort. Some of our players, some of the people in the media have voiced their discomfort with that and we have yet to hear what is the latest with that situation.
“It’s still an indefinite suspension, he’s already missed five or six games, so how many games is he going to continue to miss? Is it another situation going on there? Is it a larger situation going on there, is it a larger conversation that needs to be had? We’ve yet to find out.”
Nets point guard Kyrie Irving during a game against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on Oct. 31, 2022 in New York City. Getty ImagesBrown said he wasn’t sure how to respond when was asked if he believes it is fair for the Nets “to try and create some sort of way for Irving to satisfy everybody’s need for an apology that they feel is sincere.”
“I think you are asking for a need to satisfy the common public, and I’m not sure if that is something that Kyrie is looking to do,” he said. “I don’t think he meant any harm by posting it. Obviously, it came off as insensitive to a lot of people, but Adam came out with a statement, he doesn’t believe Kyrie Irving is antisemitic. Joe Tsai came out and said a statement that they don’t believe he is antisemitic. Those are their words, so he has already apologized formally through his IG post…
“But the comment that Joe Tsai made, which I feel like bothered a lot of people was like, ‘He has more work to do.’ Like, what does that mean? Our society has more work to do, including Joe Tsai. So I’m curious to know what that is, what that means.”
It’s unclear when Irving will return to the floor. The All-Star guard issued a public apology on Instagram earlier this month, after his suspension was announced.
Nike has suspended its relationship with the NBA champion in wake of the controversy.
