It’s safe to assume that Kyrie Irving didn’t have any turkey this past Thursday, and it’s not because he’s a vegetarian, he just doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving — which he just revealed.
The NBA star is part Native American on his late mother’s side. Last year he and his sister Asia sought to learn more about their heritage and spent time with Standing Rock Sioux, his mom’s tribe. Kyrie was also given the name Helo during that visit, which means Little Mountain.
YouTube
“I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. F— Thanksgiving,” he said after a home loss to the dismal New York Knicks.”
But the next day after some reflection, Kyrie apologized for his words and admitted that losing to a team that’s nearly in last place put him in a sour mood. The New Jersey native also said he didn’t mean to offend those who enjoy the holiday and cherish spending time with family.
“I spoke with frustration after last night’s game and spoke words that shouldn’t be in a professional setting no matter what,” he tweeted. “Meant no disrespect to the holiday and those who celebrate it respectfully. I’m grateful for the time we all can share with our families. We are always one.”
After Kyrie’s apology, some said he should’ve stood his ground, because they too thought Thanksgiving shouldn’t be celebrated because of the atrocities committed against Native Americans.
But there was one person who seemed to call the Boston Celtic a hypocrite after he or she pulled an old tweet of his from 2011.
“I cannot wait for Thanksgiving,” read Kyrie’s old message. “Mac and cheese, cornbread, greens, ham, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, potato salad.”
But another person had an explanation for the change of heart and chalked it up to Kyrie simply knowing more these days.
“It’s called growth,” that Twitter user wrote. “He was sleep, now he’s woke asf.”
