NEW YORK (AP) — Recently suspended Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving met with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the meeting said.
The Nets suspended Irving for at least five games without pay Thursday after he refused to espouse anti-Semitic beliefs.
The punishment came just hours after Silver said Irving had made a “negligent decision” by posting a link to a movie containing anti-Semitic material on his Twitter account.
Silver then said he would meet with Irving the following week.
The meeting took place on Tuesday, the person, who requested anonymity, told The Associated Press because the conversation and its details were private.
Irving eventually deleted the tweet and apologized on Instagram after failing to do so earlier Thursday when speaking to reporters.
By then, Silver had already shown his disappointment that the player took so long to apologize and condemn as anti-Semitic some of the content of the documentary in question, entitled “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.”
Even after the meeting with Silver, Irving would have work to do to mend his relationship with the Nets.
Team officials were already upset over his persistent refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which kept him from playing at home for much of last season. In fact, they refused in the summer to extend his contract.
This time, he will have to comply with a series of measures that the club considers necessary for his return to matches.
Irving will miss his fourth game on Wednesday, against the New York Knicks. The Nets will then begin a four-visit tour of the West Coast.
