Lakers' LeBron James Says Kyrie Irving 'Should Be Able to Play' After Apology

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tweeted Thursday that his former teammate Kyrie Irving should be allowed to return to the court after apologizing for tweeting a link to an antisemitic video.

Irving, who did not initially apologize for amplifying the video and was somewhat combative when asked about the topic, was suspended by the Brooklyn Nets for a minimum of five games without pay and given a series of requirements he had to fulfill before his suspension would be rescinded:

Had Irving initially apologized for his choice to share the link, it's unlikely the Nets or NBA would have taken any action. But Irving instead, on more than one occasion, avoided doing so:

The Nets responded to those statements by suspending Irving and saying he was "currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver added that he was "disappointed" the star guard didn't unequivocally apologize or publicly condemn the "harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize."

Irving has since met with Silver and apologized publicly for his actions.

"To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize," he wrote in part on Instagram last Thursday.

James isn't the only NBA player to question the severity of Irving's punishment, however. Boston Celtics star forward and National Basketball Players Association vice president Jaylen Brown shared similar concerns.

"The terms for his return, they seem like a lot, and a lot of the players expressed discomfort with the terms," he told reporters this week.

"He made a mistake," he added. "He posted something. There was no distinction. Maybe we can move forward, but the terms in which he has to fulfill to return, I think not just speaking for me, speaking as a vice president from a lot of our players, we didn't agree with the terms that was required for him to come back ... ."