The Kyrie Irving incident highlights the selective nature of the organized Jewish community in addressing antisemitism, as it seemingly disappeared from public discourse

Do you recall when a prominent NBA player endorsed a documentary suggesting that Jews manipulated history, including fabricating the Holocaust, to assert their chosen status by God? Kyrie Irving's support for "Hebrews to Negroes" coincided with other instances of antisemitism in the public eye, such as rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West), yet the response was relatively short-lived.

Irving oscillated between downplaying his actions, claiming that merely sharing the link didn't equate to endorsing it, and exacerbating tensions by implying that, as the documentary suggested, Africans were the authentic Jews, thereby denying any antisemitic intent.

He faced suspension, donated to the Anti-Defamation League, made further controversial remarks, had his donation declined, ultimately apologized, resumed playing, then later deleted his apology post upon being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to Dallas. Now, leading the Mavericks in a playoff push, concerns about his alleged antisemitism have largely faded.

"It only resurfaces when Kyrie Irving achieves something positive," shared my colleague Louis Keene, who covered the initial controversy. In such moments, Irving's young supporters lament past attempts to vilify him.

Louis recently penned an article detailing his discussions with Jewish Mavericks fans who, regardless of personal feelings towards Irving, are rooting for his success. "I've moved past the antisemitism," remarked Ben Calmenson, a 28-year-old who winced when Irving wore a keffiyeh to a recent press conference but quickly forgave it.

While I still feel uneasy watching Irving triumph, as he has throughout the playoffs and did again against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, I'm not advocating for his expulsion from the league over sharing a film alleging Jewish culpability for Black suffering. He mostly appears to be an eccentric individual with doubts about vaccines and the shape of the Earth.

"A lot of young fans view Kyrie Irving as an unconventional figure whose susceptibility to conspiracy theories is just part of his persona," Louis explained to me. "He's notably philanthropic, even among professional athletes, and outspoken on social issues, so they perceive him as genuinely good but a bit eccentric."

The Kyrie Irving saga underscores the selective nature of the organized Jewish community in addressing antisemitism. Efforts by prominent groups like the American Jewish Committee to persuade Amazon to remove the antisemitic film from its Prime Video service were swiftly halted when Andy Jassy, the company's CEO, declined to comply.

Presently, attention is focused on left-leaning students at prestigious college campuses. However, had Irving been playing basketball three decades ago, during a period when Jewish organizations were preoccupied with the perceived threat of "Black antisemitism," reporters might have persisted in questioning him about "Hebrews to Negroes." Additionally, his social media post referring to Israelis as "murderous oppressors" may have garnered more scrutiny.

Furthermore, Irving's affiliation with a basketball team currently undergoing ownership transition from Mark Cuban, described by Louis as a "Jewish community legend," to Miriam Adelson, wife of the late Jewish casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, adds another layer of complexity.

Despite Irving's celebrity status, Jewish leaders wield significant influence on college campuses and even in Congress. However, imposing sanctions on superstars for what essentially amounts to imprudent remarks proves challenging. "They acknowledged that their influence is somewhat limited," remarked Louis.

The Kyrie Irving saga underscores the selective nature of the organized Jewish community in addressing antisemitism. Efforts by prominent groups like the American Jewish Committee to persuade Amazon to remove the antisemitic film from its Prime Video service were swiftly halted when Andy Jassy, the company's CEO, declined to comply.

Presently, attention is focused on left-leaning students at prestigious college campuses. However, had Irving been playing basketball three decades ago, during a period when Jewish organizations were preoccupied with the perceived threat of "Black antisemitism," reporters might have persisted in questioning him about "Hebrews to Negroes." Additionally, his social media post referring to Israelis as "murderous oppressors" may have garnered more scrutiny.

Furthermore, Irving's affiliation with a basketball team currently undergoing ownership transition from Mark Cuban, described by Louis as a "Jewish community legend," to Miriam Adelson, wife of the late Jewish casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, adds another layer of complexity.

Despite Irving's celebrity status, Jewish leaders wield significant influence on college campuses and even in Congress. However, imposing sanctions on superstars for what essentially amounts to imprudent remarks proves challenging. "They acknowledged that their influence is somewhat limited," remarked Louis.