NEW YORK (AP) – The NBA made Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets pay dearly for their silence.
The league fined the guard and the team $ 25,000 each Thursday because the player refused to speak to the press in the preseason.
In announcing the fine, the NBA indicated that Irving refused several times this week to participate in the session with reporters.
Irving has had a complicated relationship with the media and came close to receiving a fine from the NBA the previous season for failing to fulfill his obligation while out with a shoulder injury.
On this occasion, Irving has not spoken in any of the Nets’ sessions with the press, which are carried out through Zoom due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, he issued a statement through his publicist and spoke of his silence, saying he wanted to make sure his message was conveyed in the proper way.
“I am committed to attending my work every day, ready to have fun, compete, fulfill and win the championship alongside my teammates and colleagues in the Nets organization. My goal this season is to let my work on and off the court speak for themselves, ”Irving said.
“Life hit us differently this year and requires that we, that I, move differently. So this is the beginning of that change ”.
His publicist clarified that the statement did not suggest that Irving would not speak further to the media. But he still doesn’t, even though the Nets have been available every day of the week except one.
The Nets open the preseason Sunday against Washington.
They play their preseason opener on Sunday against Washington.
