Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija responded publicly to the Kyrie Irving controversy for the first time Friday, telling reporters “there need to be consequences for actions” after the Brooklyn Nets guard was suspended at least five games for failing to unequivocally disavow antisemitism.
Avdija, who is Jewish and is from Israel, said he was not offended by Irving, who used social media last week to share a book and a documentary that featured antisemitic tropes. Irving formally apologized after the suspension, though the fallout from the incident continued for the guard Friday as Nike suspended its relationship with the NBA superstar.
“He made a mistake, but you need to understand that he gives examples to people,” Avdija said after the Wizards’ 128-86 loss to the Nets. “People look up to him, you know what I’m saying? You can think whatever you want, you can do whatever you want. [But] I don’t think it’s right to go out and publish it and let little kids that follow you see it and generations that come after to think like that, because it’s not true. And I don’t think it’s fair.
“Hopefully he’s sorry for what he said. Other than that, I don’t have any other room to say anything about it.”
Avdija said Irving’s actions were a “little surprising,” but added he’s received plenty of support from teammates. Hours before the game Friday, teammate Kyle Kuzma reached out to Avdija after people interperted a tweet from Kuzma earlier in the day to be in support of Irving.
Kuzma tweeted: “Can’t even tell the truth no more” before clarifying around 20 minutes later that the message was “not about any current events.” He told reporters the message was about a matter in his personal life, though declined to go into detail. “Probably a product of wrong place, wrong time,” Kuzma said. “For sure.”
In the locker room, Avdija said he tries to “spread love” and added he was focused on basketball.
“I’m not trying to be a politician,” Avdija said. “I’m going to represent my country and always talk positive about it, but I’m not trying to go into those corners.”
Avdija said he agreed with how the NBA has handled its response to Irving. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver put out a statement earlier this week that said he intends to meet with Irving about the guard’s comments.
“There need to be consequences for the actions that players do,” Avdija said. “And I think I’m not — I don’t know the punishment that the league gives — but I think it needs to be known that there’s no room for words like that.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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