Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says Kyrie Irving has no motivation to grow or learn: "There’s little hope that he will change because he’s insulated by fame and money and surrounded by yes-people"
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar might be most known for his work on the basketball court, but he has also always been deeply invested in social justice. Dating to his playing days, he was one of the first pro athletes to speak out against injustices in America.
The Lakers legend recently spoke out about the latest NBA dilemma regarding Kyrie Irving. In his latest shocking move, the Brooklyn Nets star tweeted out a link to a movie that has antisemitic undertones. Commissioner Adam Silver intends to sit down with Irving in the near future, and it remains to be seen if Irving will serve any kind of suspension.
Abdul-Jabbar weighed in with his thoughts on the matter. He feels fame has greatly impacted Irving, and that he shows little motivation to do research and learn the facts.
"Honestly, there’s little hope that he will change, because he’s insulated by fame and money and surrounded by yes-people," Abdul-Jabbar wrote. "There is no motivation to learn how to distinguish propaganda from facts. All that’s left is for the world to decide how it should respond to him."
More people around the NBA need to follow Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and speak out against Kyrie Irving
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar should be applauded for taking the time to speak out against what Kyrie Irving did. Now that one of the game's most iconic figures has weighed in, more people in and around the NBA should follow.
Other former players have also chimed in with their thoughts, but nothing from any current players. The NBA has spent years building a reputation of standing up for social justice. Seeing current stars sit by and do nothing goes against everything they've helped build.
Seeing how few players have addressed this situation simply feeds the narrative that stars run the NBA. When Meyers Leonard was caught making antisemitic comments last year, he was fined and quickly distanced from his team. In fact, he hasn't been back in the NBA since that incident. Meanwhile, Irving is still with the Brooklyn Nets despite showing no form of remorse for his actions.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and others have got the ball rolling. Now it's time for the league's current stars to do their part. Sitting by and not holding Irving accountable is not the right move and is a bad look for the league as a whole.
As we await a final decision for his actions, it will be interesting to see if any current players speak out against this hateful act.