Broussard: Those who criticized Kyrie Irving & Avery Bradley owe them apology

[bondom34]

There are multiple ways to make a statement. Some players think it's best to make it through not playing. Some think it's best to do so while playing through that platform. Both groups seem to want to make a statement toward social reform.

There is 2 ways to make a statement who can be equally effective:

a) Making home videos to support the cause.

b) By doing his work. Something he has been paid to do.

There are a lot of ways to do it. Playing and using a national TV platform might be one. Sitting out in a form of protest is another. We saw the "I can't breathe" shirts a few years ago when players wanted to protest, and here we are again. I'm not sure sitting out is the best way or playing is, but both seem like an option and any player who wants to show support in whatever way should be commended.

[Richard4444]

There are multiple ways to make a statement. Some players think it's best to make it through not playing. Some think it's best to do so while playing through that platform. Both groups seem to want to make a statement toward social reform.

There is 2 ways to make a statement who can be equally effective:

a) Making home videos to support the cause.

b) By doing his work. Something he has been paid to do.

There are a lot of ways to do it. Playing and using a national TV platform might be one. Sitting out in a form of protest is another. We saw the "I can't breathe" shirts a few years ago when players wanted to protest, and here we are again. I'm not sure sitting out is the best way or playing is, but both seem like an option and any player who wants to show support in whatever way should be commended.

The player is been paid to work. He signed a contract. Staying home is not a more efective way to protest. It sounds like a excuse to not work.

I understand if he decide to stay in home if he fears COVID-19.

[LAKESHOW]

Kyrie is the VP, had been in discussions, on the phones, has been on the same page all along. And now breaks out without a word to the President Chris Paul or the others he had been previously working with these past several weeks. He breaks out and becomes divisive. He divides the solidarity, from the team that he had been working together with and pledging with all along.
Sound familiar?? The Nets had complaints and theres documented proof of his time on the Celtics. And of course Cleveland.

[reflex35]

Kyrie is the VP, had been in discussions, on the phones, has been on the same page all along. And now breaks out without a word to the President Chris Paul or the others he had been previously working with these past several weeks. He breaks out and becomes divisive. He divides the solidarity, from the team that he had been working together with and pledging with all along.
Sound familiar?? The Nets had complaints and theres documented proof of his time on the Celtics. And of course Cleveland.

That is true.

And he probably does it because he hates old’king and dislikes cp.

Wish that Kobe was alive - he would tell Kyrie to stop doing nonsenses.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

I wish it was anyone but Irving. I just can't take a flat earthers ruminations seriously.

I don't see how anyone could take Broussard's ruminations seriously, either.

[SwagtoBurn]

Its a basketball league. It's entertainment in its most vapid sense. The combination of all these factors could seriously seriously damage a league who's future looked inevitably bright just a few years ago. People will tune out. Its value is vapid escapist entertainment. The more it reminds people, rather than let's people escape from, all the chaos outside, the less value it has.

Yeah, this is me pretty much. Avery Bradley basically talking about 'why is it ultimately on the players?', bruh it's yall's movement! Could the league help? Sure. But as far as broader responsibility, think the league is doing plenty by just providing them the check and this level of 'platform' is more than enough. Not gonna lie, still do resent the 'strong-arming' going on here some. Am I not gonna watch? No, but absolutely will be paying less attention to the adjoining commentary.

[TheCage4]

Come June 24th we’ll see how many players, if there are any at all, who voluntarily sit out in protest. Kyrie doesn’t count because he is injured and wasn’t permitted to join the Nets in Orlando anyway. I highly doubt LeBron’s minions (Howard & Bradley) take a pass. As for the other 70+ players on that phone conference, I doubt a handful follow through.

Instead we’ll see a lot of T-shirt’s and kneeling, post game comments made during interviews, etc.

[Johnny Bball]

Damn right they do.

And I normally hate Broussard.

[themoneyteam2]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

It’s literally middle school in Brooklyn

[jason bourne]

I wish it was anyone but Irving. I just can't take a flat earthers ruminations seriously.

Kyrie is forming a "flat Earthers" players coalition. What a kook.

[76ciology]

Sigh..

Divisiveness will not solve this.

If I’m CBA (china league), I’ll look at this as an opportunity.

P.S. Kyrie could be the next Marbury

Well not for nothing, China doesn’t seem like it’s too keen on basic human rights, either, so going there won’t be getting his message across

That being said I support Kyrie and anyone who wants to do something for change

Well i want to say that maybe play in europe or australia but they aren’t also too keen on basic human rights either.

[Triples333]

What changes does the NBA need to make? Why not illuminate what is arguably one of the greatest achievements not just for black Americans, but all American/foreign players? The NBA is a brilliantly run organization that has been nothing but fair to its players. And it's about FAR more than just them. This is an organization that funds TENS of thousands of jobs not just in the USA but across the globe.

Why do anything at this time other than continue to oust the Donald Sterling's of the world and continue to promote this fantastic organization?

Kyrie and the detractors of this are who need to look within and owe the apology for attempting to hold this forward thinking enterprise back in a time when we need it most.

[NormanDale]

Has anyone on this board who holds a leadership position at work ever been in the position that Kyrie put Chris Paul and Michelle Roberts in with this?

You have a controversial decision to make, so you gather as many perspectives as you can, then you bring the leadership together into a room and try to reach a consensus. If you go about things the right way and also get lucky, you're able to do so. You announce the decision.

Then, one of the dudes who was in the room and didn't raise a single objection starts talking about how bad of a decision it is, or how we need to think through things better, or how the leadership is out of touch, etc. etc.

I've had something similar happen to me, and it's absolutely infuriating.


So instead of speaking up in the actual meeting, he votes to go ahead and play, then chooses to form a "players coalition" to examine the issue? Then he has the nerve to say that the goal of the coalition is to "unify the players"?

My guy, you already HAVE A UNION. YOU ARE A VP OF THAT UNION! The structures already exist!

Now you form a separate "coalition" to contradict your own union, and pretend you want to "unify"? And some people actually take this seriously?



As far as Broussard's point, I'm glad the NBA will support Black Lives Matter. But was that really that tough a sell?

If the player's union had come out of their meeting and said "we won't play unless the NBA does X, Y, and Z," you don't think you could have gotten the league to take the exact same steps it will take anyway?

Ahh, but then no one would be talking about Kyrie Irving.

[gabri3l3]

Its a basketball league. It's entertainment in its most vapid sense. The combination of all these factors could seriously seriously damage a league who's future looked inevitably bright just a few years ago. People will tune out. Its value is vapid escapist entertainment. The more it reminds people, rather than let's people escape from, all the chaos outside, the less value it has.

this is a very interesting point. the 'stick to basketball' crew is not that wrong.

[rtiff68]

Kyrie is articulate and obviously pretty well liked amongst the players; unfortunately, the latter clearly mistook those things for sophistication and self awareness when they voted him to be the VP of the union (as is often the case in politics, unfortunately).

At a time when the media and the populace are especially receptive to the concept of social change, Kyrie’s self absorption is taking the spotlight away from center stage.

He might be your friend, but is this the best person to lead your locker room, let alone be the face and voice of your movement towards social reform?

[Ruzious]

Has anyone on this board who holds a leadership position at work ever been in the position that Kyrie put Chris Paul and Michelle Roberts in with this?

You have a controversial decision to make, so you gather as many perspectives as you can, then you bring the leadership together into a room and try to reach a consensus. If you go about things the right way and also get lucky, you're able to do so. You announce the decision.

Then, one of the dudes who was in the room and didn't raise a single objection starts talking about how bad of a decision it is, or how we need to think through things better, or how the leadership is out of touch, etc. etc.

I've had something similar happen to me, and it's absolutely infuriating.


So instead of speaking up in the actual meeting, he votes to go ahead and play, then chooses to form a "players coalition" to examine the issue? Then he has the nerve to say that the goal of the coalition is to "unify the players"?

My guy, you already HAVE A UNION. YOU ARE A VP OF THAT UNION! The structures already exist!

Now you form a separate "coalition" to contradict your own union, and pretend you want to "unify"? And some people actually take this seriously?



As far as Broussard's point, I'm glad the NBA will support Black Lives Matter. But was that really that tough a sell?

If the player's union had come out of their meeting and said "we won't play unless the NBA does X, Y, and Z," you don't think you could have gotten the league to take the exact same steps it will take anyway?

Ahh, but then no one would be talking about Kyrie Irving.

+ 100. Hall of Fame post. And yes, I've been involved with something like that, and it drove me crazy.

[Zvaart]

Has anyone on this board who holds a leadership position at work ever been in the position that Kyrie put Chris Paul and Michelle Roberts in with this?

You have a controversial decision to make, so you gather as many perspectives as you can, then you bring the leadership together into a room and try to reach a consensus. If you go about things the right way and also get lucky, you're able to do so. You announce the decision.

Then, one of the dudes who was in the room and didn't raise a single objection starts talking about how bad of a decision it is, or how we need to think through things better, or how the leadership is out of touch, etc. etc.

I've had something similar happen to me, and it's absolutely infuriating.


So instead of speaking up in the actual meeting, he votes to go ahead and play, then chooses to form a "players coalition" to examine the issue? Then he has the nerve to say that the goal of the coalition is to "unify the players"?

My guy, you already HAVE A UNION. YOU ARE A VP OF THAT UNION! The structures already exist!

Now you form a separate "coalition" to contradict your own union, and pretend you want to "unify"? And some people actually take this seriously?



As far as Broussard's point, I'm glad the NBA will support Black Lives Matter. But was that really that tough a sell?

If the player's union had come out of their meeting and said "we won't play unless the NBA does X, Y, and Z," you don't think you could have gotten the league to take the exact same steps it will take anyway?

Ahh, but then no one would be talking about Kyrie Irving.

yes, i do.

And if everybody from our management team would do something similar would be politely invited to leave the team and the company. will be compensated with some paychecks, but he will leave, for sure.

i would't think to do it, and nobody did since my time here.

[Zenzibar]

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

I'll apologize to Kyrie and AB as soon as Broussard confesses that his rumors are made up and that he has no sources.

[Kordic27]

Its a basketball league. It's entertainment in its most vapid sense. The combination of all these factors could seriously seriously damage a league who's future looked inevitably bright just a few years ago. People will tune out. Its value is vapid escapist entertainment. The more it reminds people, rather than let's people escape from, all the chaos outside, the less value it has.

Agree that it's not the appropriate platform for social messages. If your favourite restaurant started to promote BLM messaging, or police brutality, or stats or facts about social inequality on their screens or walls or glasses or audio system, even though you agree/support all of it, you wouldn't choose to eat there right? It's all extremely important, but it's not the time or place. Just like an NBA game doesn't feel like the time or place.

The other things is, before George Floyd's murder, the reason to restart the league was to provide people with an escape from the COVID mess. Now, somehow the NBA is turning around and saying that the NBA isn't going to be an escape? Seems insincere to make that claim.

As much as I hate to say it, it feels to me, at the moment, like the biggest statement players can make is to voluntarily cancel the season. And then to endeavour to, in the season's stead, get the message out about BLM, social inequality, systemic racism, etc. They wouldn't have as big a platform, but they might have a more effective one.