Brooklyn Nets superstar point guard Kyrie Irving has made headlines this week for his opposition to the NBA’s plan to resume the season in Orlando.
Irving sites the ongoing racial injustice in the country for why he feels uncomfortable with returning to play.
“I don’t support going to Orlando,” Irving said, according to The Athletic. “I’m not with the systematic racism and the bulls-.”
Austin Rivers is one of those players who does not agree with Kyrie Irving.
The Houston Rockets guard took to Instagram in a lengthy statement to say why he thinks the NBA should in fact return to play. He cited the financial ramifications of not playing and the importance of entertainment as some of his reasons as to why he agrees with the league’s plan.
“Us coming back would put money in all of our (NBA players’) pockets,” Rivers continued. “With this money you could help out even more people and continue to give more importantly your time and energy towards the BLM movement. Which I’m 100% on board with. Because change needs to happen and injustice has been going on too long.”
Rivers added that a lot of NBA players also needed their paychecks, noting that Irving had made more money than “99%” of the league.
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“I love Kyrie’s passion towards helping this movement,” Rivers wrote. “It’s admirable and inspiring. I’m with it… but not at the cost of the whole NBA and players’ careers. We can do both. We can play and we can help change the way black lives are lived. I think we have [to]! But canceling and boycotting [a] return doesn’t do that in my opinion. Guys want to play and provide and help change!!!!”
