Kyrie Irving - With Talent and Baggage - Joins Mark Cuban's Mavs: 'Apologetic' or 'Abhorrent'?

The trade for Kyrie Irving the player is meant to improve the Mavs basketball team. But in pro sports, the high-profile star especially also represents the organization. This trade can be judged in both categories.

Kyrie Irving is back in the national spotlight after his trade to the Dallas Mavericks, and so too are the successes and baggage that has followed him throughout his career.

Irving has built quite the reputation in the NBA and beyond over the past few years by offering his views on everything from the shape of the Earth to the COVID-19 vaccine to, most recently, Jewish people.

Irving's social media comments on a movie promoting anti-semitic rhetoric pushed the Brooklyn Nets to suspend him earlier in the season. As part of his suspension, Irving received education based on why his comments may have been offensive to some people, even if that was not his intention.

One of those offended was Irving's new boss, Mavs owner Mark Cuban, who responded to the controversy both by characterizing Irving's remarks as "abhorrent'' and by saying he did not think Irving had a “bad heart.''

"I don’t think that’s him,'' Cuban said. "But I think he’s got a lot to learn.''

Eventually, Irving issued an apology.

“I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility,” Irving said in a statement. “I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles.”

(Sidebar: The apology is not presently on Irving's feeds, according to The Daily Beast.)

When Irving returned to the court, he helped the Nets recover from a slow start and catapulted them toward the top of the standings. However, he wasn't happy with his contract negotiations and forced the blockbuster trade that occurred Sunday.

The Mavericks, needing to offer Luka Doncic as much help as possible to navigate through a very tight Western Conference standings, made a decision to acquire Irving in order to try and chase a championship this season.

The trade for Kyrie the player is meant to improve the basketball team. But in pro sports, the high-profile star especially also represents the organization.

All facets of Irving - the successes and the baggage - merit examination.

Cuban is Jewish. So, notably, are the owners of the other three teams that pursued Irving - Jeanie Buss with the Lakers, Mat Ishbia with the Suns and Steve Ballmer of the Clippers. Their thoughts and motivations are also worthy of mention . ... and given Cuban's openness and accessibility, we have no doubt that the Mavs owner will address the beyond-basketball issues.

Cuban shouldn't be asked to represent the entirety of the Jewish community and its values. But he should be asked to express his thoughts.

As a Jewish person, I understand both the reasons to employ Kyrie Irving and the reasons to be offended by his presence.

The aforementioned apology was hopefully sincere. But no one is under an obligation to accept it.

But when you hurt someone, the apology doesn't always have to be accepted. The pain caused by racism, prejudice and hate is best-defined by those who feel it.

Each of us gets to choose.

Each of us gets to grow.

And that includes somebody - as Cuban himself said in the fall of Kyrie Irving - who's "got a lot to learn.''

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