Kyrie Irving “Pawn” Statement Gets Him + Brooklyn Nets Fined!
Kyrie Irving raised eyebrows when he issued a statement that his play would “speak for itself” this season, presumably boycotting the press.
Following his eyebrow-raising statement, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets have each been fined $25,000 by the NBA for failure to comply with the league’s media rules. Read on for more about Kyrie Irving Statement…
Kyrie speaks to the media pic.twitter.com/yaUfmEUmtt
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) December 14, 2020
CelebnSports247.com reports that the NBA requires that healthy players be made available to reporters before or after games and practices.
That leads to this statement by the NBA which reads:
The fines result from Irving’s refusal on several occasions this week to participate in the team media availability.
Why is Kyrie Irving being Fined?
Irving has declined numerous requests to speak to reporters, including those from ESPN, since the beginning of training camp on Dec. 1.
He appeared to react to the fine in an Instagram story Friday.
Irving wrote:
I pray we utilize the ‘fine money’ for the marginalized communities in need, especially seeing where our world is presently. [I am] here for Peace, Love, and Greatness. So stop distracting me and my team, and appreciate the Art. We move different over here. I do not talk to Pawns. My attention is worth more.
On Dec. 4, Irving released a brief statement instead of doing a traditional news conference.
Irving’s statement said:
Instead of speaking to the media today, I am issuing this statement to ensure that my message is properly conveyed. I am committed to show up to work every day, ready to have fun, compete, perform, and win championships alongside my teammates and colleagues in the Nets organization.
That statement did not fulfill the league’s media requirements.
Irving, 28, joined the Nets in 2019 on a four-year, $141 million deal. The $25,000 fine amounts to less than 1% of Irving’s annual pay.
He wants his work to speak for his greatness, not his interviews:
Kyrie Irving issued a statement that says, in part: “My goal this season is to let my work on and off the court speak for itself.”
He said he is issuing this statement instead of speaking with reporters. pic.twitter.com/ninUzAnhzC
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) December 4, 2020
Wy Kyrie is unfazed by the $25,000 hit to his bag:
NOTE: For a player to file a grievance, the NBA would have to fine the player more than $50,000, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The Nets are scheduled to play their first preseason game Sunday against the Washington Wizards.
