Steve Nash already is being hit with tough questions in his first year as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Nets' Steve Nash hasn't discussed media blackout with Kyrie Irving

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 12/12/20

Steve Nash already is being hit with tough questions in his first year as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, and a lot of it has to do with the behavior of Kyrie Irving.

The All-Star point guard responded to the $25,000 fine he received this week from the NBA by disrespectfully calling members of the media "pawns." Nash, unsurprisingly, was asked about Irving's media blackout during a conference call with reporters on Saturday.

The Hall of Famer admitted that he hasn't discussed the topic with Irving. He also didn't say that he plans to talk to him about it, either.

Steve Nash on Kyrie Irving not meeting with the media and his post on Instagram yesterday:

"He's been unbelievable in camp, playing at an extremely high level, been a leader. While he may not be in your guys' good books right now, he's in my good books" pic.twitter.com/sKIIPO2I0I
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 12, 2020

Irving and the Nets were fined $25,000 each for failure to comply with the league's media access rules. On Friday, Irving addressed the fine on Instagram, quoting human rights activist Malcolm X while also saying that he hopes the fine money goes to "marginalized communities in need."

Irving can complain about the fine all he wants, but the NBA's rulebook clearly states that players must be made available to the media at both practices and games, so the league was well within its rights to impose punishment.

The Nets will open the preseason on Sunday against the Washington Wizards in preparation for their season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 22.

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