Kyrie Irving is a lot of things but before the Brooklyn Nets game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Irving talked about WNBA star Brittney Griner, who just had her 32nd birthday and is currently detained in a Russian prison.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix tweeted that in his pregame speech, Irving pleaded for Griner’s release and return to the United States and told President Joe Biden to “do your job.”
There is a bit of irony to what Irving said given he didn’t play for most of the 2021-22 NBA season for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Irving played 29 games toward the end of the season when mandates were getting more and more relaxed.
Nevertheless, even as many agree with the sentiment of getting Griner released from prison and returning home, many took note of the person saying that and pointed out the irony.
“Just walk across the flat earth and get her, what’s so hard?” https://t.co/1T6I0YLwet
— Sean Keeley (@SeanKeeleyIsMe) October 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/AmazhangAsian/status/1582896903158894592?s=20&t=reRTOcXxrgyq_rG_9NZo6A
He’s got some nerve. Kyrie telling somebody to do their job
https://t.co/40tLc3lbav — Mekhi Pfizer (@TheArthurRivers) October 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/PlantBasedChad/status/1582881864951349250?s=20&t=reRTOcXxrgyq_rG_9NZo6A
Kyrie telling anyone to “do their job” is unreal. Dude continues to lead the world in lack of self-awareness. https://t.co/cZw1t0nI9K
— Matt Langone (@MattLangone) October 19, 2022
kyrie telling *anyone* to do their job is rich
https://t.co/nWJxB9p3Q4 — x – leroy al-gaib (@RealSimbalism) October 19, 2022
Steph Curry also talked about Griner during the Golden State Warriors’ ring ceremony. The star point guard made it a point to keep thinking of Griner, to continue talking about her, and pray and hope everyone is doing their part to get her home.