‘I AM FREE Thank God… I AM’: Kyrie Irving taped message to Nike sneakers at Nets game after sportswear giant ends partnership with NBA superstar following anti-Semitism row
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving said he was ‘free’ in a message taped to his Nike shoes Wednesday night as he scored 33 points after the brand ended its partnership with him.
Irving was released as a Nike athlete on Monday after an anti-Semitic storm, which began after the former Cavalier posted a link to an Amazon documentary on his social media.
Nike immediately ended its partnership with Irving this week following the actions and optics surrounding the NBA star.
Kyrie Irving used his Nike sneakers to send a message after the brand ended its partnership
Irving taped on a pair of Nike sneakers during Brooklyn’s narrow victory over Charlotte
On Wednesday night at Barclays Center, Irving taped a message of freedom and spirituality to his shoes, in favor of the corporate giant’s signature swoosh.
‘I AM FREE Thank God … I AM,’ is emblazoned on one side of the kicks, while the other side has a more simplistic and rude message; ‘logo here.’
Strangely, Irving changed his shoes halfway through the win against Charlotte, but chose not to cover up the Nike logo on a pair of ocean blue.
A month before ending Irving’s relationship with the Oregon-based company, Nike suspended its partnership.
Irving started the game in taped shoes before switching to blue Nikes in the second half
Irving was also suspended by the Nets for initially refusing to apologize for posting a link to the Amazon page of a movie based on a book, which was described as ‘venomously anti-Semitic.’
The one-time NBA champion has played 10 games since being reinstated against Memphis on November 20. He has averaged 23.3 points during that stretch.
Irving apologized for sharing a link to the Amazon documentary, 2018 film ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,’ which has been widely labeled as anti-Semitic, insisting he meant no harm in the post that sparked outrage.
‘I’m not anti-Semitic, I never have been,’ Irving said SNY. ‘I have no hatred in my heart for Jews or anyone who identifies as a Jew. I’m not anti-Jewish.’
Asked why he didn’t explain himself at the start of the saga, Irving said he was ‘protecting’ himself.
Irving dropped 33 points as the Brooklyn Nets took care of the struggling Charlotte Hornets
‘I just reacted defensively,’ he said. ‘And it just hurt that I could be labeled, or I thought that I was labeled as anti-Semitic or anti-Jewish, and I felt it was very disrespectful to ask me if I was anti-Semitic or not. no.’
The Melbourne-born star received intense scrutiny for sharing the documentary despite not commenting alongside the link, and was suspended for eight games by his organisation.
Brooklyn went 7-3 following Irving’s return and currently sits in third in the Eastern Conference at 14-12.
Advertisement
