Love: Irving calling media ‘pawns’ a ‘sign of disrespect’

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Love: Kyrie Irving calling media ‘pawns’ a ‘sign of disrespect’

Originally posted on Sportress of Blogitude
By Jason Rowan | Last updated 12/11/20

Kyrie Irving is currently engaged in a contentious standoff with reporters, and Kevin Love called out his former teammate for using a disrespectful term to characterize the men and women who work in the media.

Irving and the Brooklyn Nets were both fined $25,000 this week over his refusal to meet with reporters, which violates the NBA’s media rules. The point guard subsequently shared a statement on Instagram Friday in which he referred to media members as “pawns.”

"I do not talk to Pawns."

Kyrie Irving responds following being fined by the NBA for failure to comply with the league's media requirements. pic.twitter.com/WPgj3MPZXH
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 11, 2020

Love, who spent three seasons with Irving on the Cleveland Cavaliers, could not help but call out his former teammate for such divisive rhetoric.

#Cavs Kevin Love disagrees with former teammate Kyrie Irving’s stance on the media.
“Calling anybody a pawn is a sure sign of disrespect,” Love said. “I’m not a divisive person.” pic.twitter.com/4izgXgnO1A
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) December 11, 2020

Love also said that the late Flip Saunders taught him during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves that every person deserves respect and has a role to play.

As far as Irving’s ongoing feud with the media, his stubborn stance is not surprising. The mercurial superstar announced his media boycott earlier this month in a statement.

Kyrie Irving issued a statement that says, in part: “My goal this season is to let my work on and off the court speak for itself.”

He said he is issuing this statement instead of speaking with reporters. pic.twitter.com/ninUzAnhzC
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) December 4, 2020

Love’s full comments on the Irving situation, including how the Cavs star admits he can understand to some extent where his old teammate is coming from, follow.

Not my question, but here's Kevin Love's extended thoughts on Kyrie Irving's "pawns" post stemming from a rocky relationship with the media. #Cavs @basketbllnews pic.twitter.com/Jh3NpI3Mli
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) December 11, 2020

This article first appeared on Sportress of Blogitude and was syndicated with permission.

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