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Kyrie Irving, of the ‘Brooklyn Nets’ has been fined 25k for breaching media rules

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Nicole Sweet- USA Today Sports

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Brooklyn Nets , point guard, Kyrie Irving and the Nets company have been fined 25,000 each for not adhering to the league media rules, which grants access for interviews, the NBA announced on Thursday. 

The NBA released a statement stating “ The fines result from Irving’s refusal on several occasions this week to participate in the team media availability.” There has not been any details on how many interviews he has missed or what situation took place for him not to follow the rules. Since Friday the Nets have been on several Zoom calls with the media where the calls were with Steve Nash and other players of the team. 

Bobby Marks took to twitter stating the fine cannot (yet) be appealed…

In a statement that Irving released on Friday regarding why he was not participating in media interviews. The statement reads in part…

“Instead of speaking to the media today, I am issuing this statement to ensure that my message is properly conveyed. I am committed to show up to work every day, ready to have fun, compete, perform, and win championships alongside my teammates and colleagues in the Nets organization.”

He continues stating “My goal this season is to let my work on and off the court speak for itself. Life hit differently this year and it requires us, it requires me, to move differently. So, this is the beginning of that change.”

Irving’s statement was almost like a blanketed boycott,  however his spokesperson seemed to indicate that this was part of a new tactic which was called “non traditional” media strategy. 

The NBA requires that all active players are made accessible for reporters during practices and even games. On Irving’s IG story on Friday he posted in response to the fines quoting Malcolm X and made a suggestion on how he felt about fines being put in place. Irving stated “I don’t talk to pawns, My attention is worth much more.” 

Irving’s relationship with the media has not always been the best, back in Cleveland when he stated that the world was flat, later announcing that it was a joke and apologizing for the comment.  In Boston there were moments where the media and him were not in agreement, when the Celtics decided to trade him. 

In his latest tweet on October 1 Irving directed his post to the media in regards to the issues stating “ let it put me against anyone anymore at any point.” Although Irving is a beast on the court he would prefer to remain off the record.

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