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Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving always seems to have the focus on him. The 28-year-old has recently claimed that he plans to burn sage before every game this season to honor his Native American heritage, and he did exactly that during Brooklyn’s two preseason games last week. However, NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley criticized Irving for his behavior, claiming that the NBA champion “tries to act like the smartest guy in the room.”
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Kyrie Irving burns sage before Nets preseason games
Before the Nets beat the Boston Celtics 113-89 on Friday night in the NBA preseason final for both teams, Kyrie Irving was spotted burning incense at TD Garden Arena. However, it wasn’t the first time NBA fans saw Kyrie Irving burning sage before a game. The Nets point guard had done it just before the game against the Wizards last Monday.
#Kyrie Irving I was walking through the sand burning sage before tonight’s game. Native Americans burned sage for centuries as part of a spiritual ritual to clean up a space and Kyrie has a strong connection to his Native American roots … before you all come up with the jokes. pic.twitter.com/jFvLA0ngsy
– Etan Thomas (@ etanthomas36) December 19, 2020
While talking to ESPNIrving explained: “The burning sage before a game comes from a lot of native tribes. Being able to wise, just clear the energy, make sure we’re all balanced. Sage the last game, and I plan to do it almost every game if the opposing team May I “. However, Irving’s recent behavior has not gone well with NBA icon Charles Barkley, who launched a scathing attack on the “intelligence” of the Nets point guard.
ALSO READ: Kyrie Irving cleans up court upon return to Boston
Charles Barkley on Kyrie Irving: NBA legend slams Nets guard for his antics
Irving recently threatened to boycott speaking to the media and instead post statements through a public relations team or on social media. That led to the Nets and Irving being fined $ 25,000 for breaking the NBA’s media rules. Irving, however, had another chance to explain himself.
While speaking to reporters on Monday, he said: “It really is about how I felt about the mistreatment of certain artists when we came to a certain platform or when we made decisions within our lives to have full control and ownership.” Continuing, Irving emphasized: “We want to act in a safe and secure space.” Irving’s comments, however, were not well received by one person in particular.
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NBA on TNT Analyst Charles Barkley was furious at Irving’s comments. The 57-year-old, enraged by Irving’s recent behavior, said: “I don’t understand the point Kyrie is trying to make. What is he talking about being an artist? He’s a basketball player, not a first-line responder. “. not a teacher. What he does is dribble a basketball and then try to act like the smartest person in the world. “
Barkley continued, “Now he’s talking about social issues and things about his ethnicity. I say ‘you! You’ve spent six months in college and there are people smarter than you.’ If you want to say something about social justice, say it and Seriously, because it’s important and meaningful. But all that other stuff? Like, man, shut up and talk about basketball. ‘
ALSO READ: Kyrie Irving lashes out at “pawns” and refuses to speak to “someone else’s propaganda”
Image Credits – AP
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