Kyrie Irving was suspended by the Brooklyn Nets on November 3, 2022, after sharing a link to the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, which contains antisemitic conspiracy theories and false claims about Jewish people. The controversy began with an October 27 Twitter post and intensified when Irving initially declined to unequivocally reject antisemitism. Nike suspended its endorsement partnership the following day, canceled the Kyrie 8 sneaker launch and formally ended the agreement in December. Irving later apologized and returned after missing eight games. He subsequently joined the Dallas Mavericks, signed a new footwear deal with ANTA and resumed playing in the 2026–27 NBA season following a serious knee injury.
What Did Kyrie Irving Tweet in October 2022?
On October 27, 2022, Irving shared a link to an Amazon listing for the 2018 documentary Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America on Twitter, now known as X.
The post displayed the film's promotional image and directed followers to its listing. Irving did not include a detailed explanation of the material or specify which claims he supported.
The documentary, based on a book by Ronald Dalton Jr., contains antisemitic conspiracy theories, including Holocaust denial and false claims concerning Jewish history and identity.
Irving's decision to share the film attracted criticism from Jewish organizations, NBA officials and members of the public because of his considerable influence as a professional athlete.
He subsequently deleted the post, but the controversy continued as reporters and basketball officials sought clarification about his views.
Why Was the Movie Considered Antisemitic?
Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America promotes claims about religious history and Jewish identity that have been rejected by historians and criticized by organizations monitoring antisemitism.
The film also includes Holocaust-related falsehoods and material associated with longstanding anti-Jewish conspiracy theories.
These claims are not established historical facts.
Criticism of Irving centered on the potential harm of directing a large social media audience toward a film containing discriminatory misinformation.
Sharing the link did not establish that Irving personally endorsed every statement in the documentary. However, his initial responses to questions about the material became a separate source of concern.
How Did Kyrie Irving Initially Respond?
During an October 29, 2022, press conference, Irving defended his right to explore and share information about history and religion.
He rejected the suggestion that he intended to divide people or promote religious hatred.
However, he did not clearly identify and reject the documentary's antisemitic assertions.
Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai publicly criticized the post, while NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed concern about Irving's apparent promotion of harmful misinformation.
On November 2, Irving and the Nets announced plans to contribute $500,000 each toward organizations working against hatred and discrimination.
That announcement did not resolve the controversy.
Why Did the Brooklyn Nets Suspend Kyrie Irving?
On November 3, 2022, the Nets suspended Irving without pay for at least five games.
The decision followed a press conference during which Irving again failed to provide an unequivocal rejection of antisemitic beliefs when directly questioned.
Brooklyn stated that it had repeatedly attempted to address the situation but considered his responses insufficient.
The team also criticized his failure to acknowledge specific hateful material presented in the documentary.
The suspension was imposed by the Brooklyn Nets, not through a separate punishment announced by the NBA league office.
Irving was required to complete appropriate remedial measures before returning to team activities.
Did Kyrie Irving Apologize?
Yes. After the Nets announced his suspension, Irving published an apology on Instagram on November 3, 2022.
He acknowledged that the documentary contained offensive and false antisemitic material and apologized to Jewish families and communities affected by his post.
Irving also stated that he did not agree with every claim made in the film.
During a November 20 press conference, he again apologized and rejected antisemitism and hate speech.
He acknowledged that he should have handled the controversy differently and expressed a commitment to taking greater responsibility for his public influence.
How Long Was Kyrie Irving Suspended?
Although Brooklyn initially announced a suspension lasting at least five games, Irving ultimately missed eight games.
He returned to the lineup on November 20, 2022, against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Irving scored 14 points and collected five rebounds as the Nets defeated Memphis 127-115.
The Nets confirmed that he had participated in discussions with members of the Jewish community and satisfied the conditions required for reinstatement.
His return concluded the immediate disciplinary absence, although the incident continued to affect his endorsement relationships.
Why Did Nike Suspend Kyrie Irving?
On November 4, 2022, Nike announced that it was suspending its relationship with Irving.
The company condemned antisemitism and said it would no longer proceed with the planned launch of his Kyrie 8 basketball shoes.
Irving had been associated with Nike since 2011, shortly after entering the NBA.
His first signature basketball shoe launched in 2014, and the Kyrie product line subsequently became one of the company's prominent basketball footwear collections.
The suspension therefore represented a major commercial consequence of the controversy.
When Did Nike Officially End Its Partnership With Irving?
Nike confirmed the end of its endorsement relationship with Irving on December 5, 2022.
The announcement came approximately one month after the company had suspended the agreement.
Nike stated that Irving was no longer one of its sponsored athletes.
His representative, Shetellia Riley Irving, characterized the separation as a mutual decision.
The companies did not publicly disclose a complete financial accounting of the terminated endorsement agreement.
What Happened to the Nike Kyrie 8 Shoes?
The Kyrie 8 was expected to become the next model in Irving's signature Nike basketball footwear series.
However, Nike canceled the planned commercial launch in November 2022 as part of its suspension of the endorsement partnership.
Earlier Kyrie models had been commercially successful, with the footwear line developing a strong following among basketball players.
The cancellation marked the end of the planned release under Irving's existing Nike arrangement.
Kyrie Irving Signs a New Partnership With ANTA
On July 11, 2023, Chinese sportswear company ANTA announced a new partnership with Irving.
The collaboration included the creation of a signature basketball shoe collection and expanded responsibilities involving product development and marketing.
Irving was named Chief Creative Officer of his ANTA signature product line.
The company announced plans to introduce basketball footwear and lifestyle products under the partnership beginning in 2024.
The agreement provided Irving with a new commercial platform after the termination of his Nike sponsorship.
What Happened to Kyrie Irving's NBA Career?
Irving continued playing for Brooklyn after his November 2022 reinstatement.
In February 2023, the Nets traded him to the Dallas Mavericks, where he became one of the team's primary offensive players.
He helped Dallas reach the NBA Finals in 2024 alongside Luka Dončić.
However, Irving suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in March 2025.
The injury required a lengthy recovery and caused him to miss the entire 2025–26 NBA season.
He returned to NBA competition at the beginning of the 2026–27 season.
Latest Kyrie Irving Update: November 2026
As of November 11, 2026, Irving is playing for the Dallas Mavericks following his recovery from ACL surgery.
On November 9, he scored 35 points in Dallas' 125-122 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Irving made seven three-pointers and played 38 minutes, his highest playing time of the season at that point.
He combined with rookie Cooper Flagg, who scored 43 points, to lead the Mavericks' comeback victory.
The performance demonstrated Irving's continued ability to contribute at a high level after a prolonged injury absence.
Kyrie Irving Tweet, Suspension and Nike Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 27, 2022 | Irving shares a link to the documentary Hebrews to Negroes on Twitter. |
| October 29, 2022 | Irving defends his right to share information during a press conference. |
| November 2, 2022 | Irving and the Nets announce plans for donations addressing hatred and discrimination. |
| November 3, 2022 | Brooklyn suspends Irving without pay. He subsequently publishes an apology. |
| November 4, 2022 | Nike suspends its partnership and cancels the Kyrie 8 launch. |
| November 20, 2022 | Irving returns after missing eight games. |
| December 5, 2022 | Nike officially ends its endorsement relationship with Irving. |
| February 2023 | Irving is traded to the Dallas Mavericks. |
| July 2023 | Irving signs a new footwear partnership with ANTA. |
| March 2025 | Irving suffers a torn ACL. |
| November 2026 | Irving is active with Dallas and scores 35 points against Indiana. |
What Was the Impact of the Controversy?
The incident had consequences for Irving's reputation, NBA participation and commercial relationships.
His suspension resulted in missed games and unpaid salary, while the termination of his Nike agreement ended a long-standing endorsement partnership.
It also prompted broader discussion about the responsibilities of professional athletes when sharing controversial content with large online audiences.
Critics argued that public figures should recognize the risks of amplifying false or discriminatory claims.
Irving maintained that he had not intended to encourage hatred and later apologized for the harm caused by his post.
His subsequent ANTA agreement and continued NBA career demonstrated that he remained commercially and professionally active after the controversy.
Conclusion
Kyrie Irving's October 2022 Twitter post linking to a documentary containing antisemitic misinformation led to one of the most significant controversies of his NBA career.
The Brooklyn Nets suspended him on November 3 after he initially failed to unequivocally reject antisemitism and acknowledge the film's harmful material.
Nike suspended its partnership the following day and formally ended the agreement in December, canceling the planned Kyrie 8 release.
Irving apologized, returned after eight missed games and later established a new endorsement partnership with ANTA.
As of November 2026, he is active with the Dallas Mavericks following recovery from a major knee injury. The controversy remains a notable example of how social media conduct can affect an athlete's professional relationships and public reputation.