Many wondered if Kyrie Irving had played his final game as a Net after he was suspended for a period of time no shorter than five games on Thursday night.
But general manager Sean Marks told reporters at Friday’s shootaround that the team never considered waiving the star point guard, and laid out the path for Irving to make his return from suspension.
First, Marks called Irving’s apology late Thursday night “a step” in the right direction, though many criticized it as being much later than it should have been, and that Irving only made it after the suspension was announced and after the Anti-Defamation League declined his $500,000 peace offering after he stood in front of reporters and declined to apologize or definitely say he did not have anti-Semitic beliefs earlier in the day.
“That’s a step in the right direction, but again, as we’ve stated, actions speak louder than words,” Marks said. “So he’s had some time, and he’ll have more time to reflect on this…that’s certainly not enough.”
As for what Irving can do next, Marks told reporters that he will need to meet with the team, and with Jewish leaders, before the team will consider reinstating him.
“We’ll evaluate and see if this is the right opportunity to bring him back,” Marks said.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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