“Gotta be Smarter Than That”: NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal Clarifies His ‘Idiot’ Statement on Kyrie Irving
When word spread that Kyrie Irving had been placed on an indefinite paid suspension by the Brooklyn Nets, Shaquille O’Neal was covering the NBA for TNT. The Hall of Fame center called the erratic point guard an “idiot” without holding back in his criticism. Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley disagreed with the NBA’s choice to not penalize Kyrie Irving for his anti-Semitic tweets. On Twitter, Irving advertised a book that was viciously anti-Semitic.
The former professional athletes stated on Inside the NBA on Tuesday that they thought Irving should have received a warning for his offensive words. Shaquille O’Neal also addressed the subject, saying that he was aware he needed to be “extremely careful” with the information he published on social media and that it was clear the Brooklyn Nets player didn’t give a damn.
Shaquille O’Neal clarifies his remarks on Kyrie Irving
Shaquille O’Neal elaborated on what he stated at the time in an edition of “The Big Podcast with Shaq“.
“A lot of people took offense with what I said because a lot of times you listen, but you listen through emotions,” Shaq said. “When I said “idiot,” I meant you can’t do anything that’s going to blemish your name, you personally! You personally can’t blemish or tarnish your name, your legacy, your career.”
Shaquille O’Neal continued: “I don’t mess with people’s religions and what they do. You believe what you believe and you stand on what you believe, that’s what you’re supposed to do. But when you put yourself in jeopardy, you gotta be smarter than that. And that’s all what I was saying when I said “idiot.”
While the message was denounced by the Nets and club owner Joe Tsai, Irving defended himself first on Twitter and then at a news conference, which included a contentious argument between Irving and an ESPN NBA reporter at one point. Irving removed the initial tweet on Monday in the face of negative press.
“It hurts me sometimes when we have to sit up here to talk about stuff that divides the game. That we gotta answer for what this idiot has done.”
Shaq speaks on Kyrie Irving pic.twitter.com/PsB38MiMqk
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 1, 2022
Kyrie Irving was benched for failing to categorically deny that he had any anti-Semitic views or supported anti-Semitism on many occasions. He didn’t give up until the Brooklyn Nets suspended him.
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