Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has received a heavy criticism from fans and former NBA superstars for promoting an ant-Semitic film 'Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America', and taking a stand on his controversial comments. Recently, NBA legends Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley blasted the 30-year-old point guard for his anti-Semitic comments.
While speaking on TNT's Tip-Off show Tuesday night, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal said Irving 'doesn't really care what's going on' and the 50-year-old couldn't answer his wrongdoings. O'Neal said, "You have to be aware of what you are doing. You have to be conscious and I can tell he is not conscious - he (Irving) doesn't really care what's going on."
Watch: Shaq condemns Kyrie Irving over his anti-Semitic remarks
Shaq continued, "It hurts me sometimes when we have to sit up here and talk about stuff that divides the game. We have got to answer for what this idiot has done. I stand for equality of all people, I've always been like that... I don't want to sit up here and answer questions for what he's done. It's my job to make people happy. I can't answer for what he's doing - it is obvious by his answers that he doesn't really care."
The 1993 NBA MVP, Charles Barkley also didn't hold back on Kyrie Irving and stated that NBA commissioner 'Adam Silver should suspend and fine the point guard' for his racist comments.
Watch Charles Barkley's take on Irving controversy:
During the Nets' sixth game of the regular season against the Pacers, some fans were spotted wearing 'Fight Antisemitism' shirts at the courtside to protest against Kyrie Irving's controversial comments.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Nets sacked their head coach Steve Nash on Tuesday after their fifth defeat in the NBA 2022-23 season against Chicago Bulls as Kyries Irving recorded the lowest score in his career after playing more than 30 minutes. Irving scored just four points and made six rebounds and seven assists in a nine-point defeat against the Bulls on Tuesday night.