Nash on Irving: Opportunity for Nets to 'grow'

NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets manager Steve Nash says he's hopeful the enactment volition beryllium capable to turn from the latest contention centered astir Kyrie Irving's societal media posts.

Irving connected Thursday tweeted, past connected Sunday nighttime deleted, a nexus to the movie "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America," which is based connected a publication that contains antisemitic tropes.

"I conscionable anticipation that we each spell done this together," Nash said anterior to Monday's 116-109 triumph implicit the Indiana Pacers. "There's ever an accidental for america to turn and recognize caller perspectives. I deliberation the enactment is trying to instrumentality that stance wherever we tin pass done this. And effort to each travel retired successful a amended presumption and some much knowing and much empathy for each broadside of this statement and situation."

Nash said it "certainly helps" that Irving deleted the station but did not spell into specifics astir whether oregon not disciplinary enactment was ever considered for Irving, noting that helium wasn't portion of each the interior conversations wrong the organization. As for however the enactment felt Irving handled the past 2 days, Nash said it was an "ongoing conversation."

"I haven't been a portion of those interior talks to beryllium honest," Nash said. "I've been conscionable coaching, preparing the team, but I cognize that they're moving astatine that constantly."

A radical of 8 men and women sat courtside adjacent the Pacers seat Monday nighttime wearing "Fight Anti-Semitism" T-shirts. Speaking to ESPN astatine halftime of the game, Nets season-ticket holder Aaron Jungreis said helium believes Irving should beryllium suspended.

"We felt that the Nets did not condemn an antisemite successful their ranks," Jungreis said. "And we wanted to amusement love, we're inactive Net fans and we emotion the team, but they should reprimand Kyrie due to the fact that he's afloat of hate. We're afloat of love. Hopefully he'll travel astir to the different side."

Jungreis said helium does not judge the Nets person done capable successful the aftermath of Irving's station and his quality league Saturday night successful which helium defended it.

"I anticipation helium realizes however overmuch antisemitism helium is stoking by putting retired [a nexus to] a movie similar this," Jungreis said. "Which is highly anti-Jewish. And I anticipation helium comes to his senses. ... I deliberation helium should beryllium suspended and helium should recognize what helium did, but I don't cognize if they will."

The Nets did not marque Irving disposable to talk to the media aft the game. A Nets spokesperson said they didn't yet cognize whether Irving would code the media pursuing Tuesday's crippled against the Chicago Bulls.

Meanwhile, Nets defender Ben Simmons was a astonishment scratch for Monday's crippled due to the fact that of near genu soreness.

"He conscionable has a sore knee," Nash said. "That's each I cognize really. [Tuesday] we'll person to show and spot however helium is, but contiguous he's retired and we'll spot however the genu is [Tuesday] and if he's available."

Nets defender Seth Curry besides missed Monday's crippled due to the fact that of near ankle soreness. Curry made his play debut successful Saturday's nonaccomplishment to the Pacers.