A prominent NBA insider has offered up a mea culpa after he defended Nets star Kyrie Irving amid the controversy over Irving's promotion of an anti-Semitic movie.
Bally Sports reporter Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson took to social media to "deeply apologize" after he bizarrely said the backlash against Irving was "in poor taste" because Irving is in a contract year.
Robinson's original comments came on PIX11 in New York.
He said the focus on the Irving situation was moving the conversation "away from the game."
“I think this backlash is really in poor taste because he is in a contract year,” Robinson said. “I’ll even take it a step further. When you look at this instance here, if the Nets were 5–0, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I think that when you look at a team that is 1–4, and we’re focusing on the issue that is an Amazon Prime link that has over 1,200 reviews and four and a half stars, we’re getting away from the game.”
Irving has been under fire since he posted a link to a book and movie propagating anti-Semitic tropes. He then prompted further backlash after he dug in his heels when questioned about it by ESPN reporter Nick Friedell. Irving later deleted the posts in question, several days after publishing them, but the damage had been done.
Nets brass condemned the posts, but neither the NBA nor the team has taken action against Irving. The NBAPA released a statement condemning anti-Semitism, but did not name Irving specifically. Irving serves as a vice president with the union.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram