Jɑylen Brown expects NBPA to fight condιtions of Kyɾιe Irʋιng’s Nets bɑn

DALLAS — Expect the NBPA — the players’ union — to fight Nets star Kyrie Irving’s suspension over promoting an anti-Semitic movie.

At least that’s what Celtics star Jaylen Brown — an NBPA vice president, like Irving — told the Boston Globe. After the Nets suspended Irving for a minimum of five games and placed his return conditional upon him meeting six requirements, Brown said the union felt the demands onerous.

“I’ve been talking to Kyrie,” Brown said. “I’ve talked to Adam [Silver, NBA commissioner], I talked to Tamika [Tremaglio, NBPA executive director], I’ve talked to pretty much everybody about this situation.

“But I’m expecting the NBPA to appeal the suspension from Brooklyn. The terms, etc., that went into his return. The terms for his return, they seem like a lot, and a lot of the players expressed discomfort with the terms.”

The Nets reportedly are demanding that Irving, 1.) publicly apologize for the Oct. 27 social media links to the anti-Semitic film, 2.) complete anti-hate classes (including donating $500,000), 3.) complete sensitivity training, 4.) complete anti-hate/anti-Semitic training, 5.) meet with Jewish leaders (including the ADL), and 6.) meet with team owner Joe Tsai, whose texts he reportedly ignored.

Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving walks to speak to the media at the HSS Training — The NBPA is expected to fight Kyrie Irvings suspension over the Nets’ terms of reinstatement.

“I don’t believe Kyrie Irving is antisemitic,” said Brown, who parted with Donda Sports agency on Oct. 25 following Kanye West’s anti-Semitic statements. “I don’t think people in our governing bodies think he’s antisemitic. He made a mistake. We understand from an outside perspective how important sensitivity is to not condone hate speech and not condone anything of that nature. It’s sensitivity to the dialect around that. We don’t want to stand up for somebody in order to not condemn hate speech but I don’t believe Kyrie Irving is anti-Semitic. And hopefully the NBA feels the same way.”

Silver — who is Jewish — also demanded that Irving meet with him this week. That sit-down is expected to take place Tuesday.

“He made a mistake,” Brown said. “He posted something. There was no distinction.

Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is introduced before the game — Celtics star Jaylen Brown, an NBPA vice president, expects the union to fight Kyrie Irving’s Nets suspension.

“Maybe we can move forward, but the terms in which he has to fulfill to return, I think not just speaking for me, speaking as a vice president from a lot of our players, we didn’t agree with the terms that was required for him to come back and we’re waiting for this Tuesday meeting to happen to see what comes of it. But we’ll go from there. That’s all I’ll say.”