Kyrie Irving And Kevin Durant Have Been Secretly Boycotting The National Anthem Since The Capitol Building Riots

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have been making a subtle statement by boycotting The National Anthem all season, according to a new report.

If you remember, Kyrie took a long, unexpected leave of absence following the Capitol Building riots earlier in the year.

When he returned, it appears that Kevin Durant joined him in boycotting The National Anthem all the way through the end of the Nets’ postseason exit.

Matt Sullivan of GQ revealed the sneaky boycott in his latest piece.

SCOOP: Kyrie Irving + Kevin Durant skipped the national anthem this year

Via reporting from my book (https://t.co/ZNyLbzFQGF) + 5 sources close to Nets stars who acknowledge disappearing act went from Capitol Riot thru playoffs

My exclusive @GQmagazine https://t.co/7lTTPvRsRe

— Matt Sullivan (@sullduggery) June 24, 2021

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“After he returned to the court in January, Kyrie Irving began slipping out of pre-game warmups 10 minutes before tipoff, disappearing into the shadowy tunnel of an arena — and skipping the national anthem,” Sullivan wrote. “Kevin Durant would silently follow about a minute after Irving, as the cameras cut to commercial and the lights went down.”

Sullivan also had evidence that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant would return to the tunnel minutes before the Anthem every game.

Mid-February: A confidant of Kyrie saw him go to the locker room before the anthem at the NBA All-Star Game.

Mid-April: Durant + Jordan weren’t on court for anthem at Nets game in Minneapolis that was delayed after the killing of Daunte Wright. (Kyrie took day off work). (6/15) pic.twitter.com/kRykCYtFGl

— Matt Sullivan (@sullduggery) June 24, 2021

Mid-April: Here's Kyrie walking back to the tunnel. KD followed.

Nets staffer says it's not a bathroom break or extra stretching.

Kyrie + DeAndre declined to comment, KD's reps didn't respond to detailed list of questions (7/15) pic.twitter.com/NdZg3s4f9u

— Matt Sullivan (@sullduggery) June 24, 2021

June: Here's DeAndre Jordan hustling back oncourt as the lights come up after the anthem at Game 2 of Nets playoffs series vs. Bucks.

DJ used to stand there and remember a friend who died in a car accident but hasn't been out for The Star-Spangled Banner this year. (9/15) pic.twitter.com/yDTZWShy3c

— Matt Sullivan (@sullduggery) June 24, 2021

…and here's Durant walking off court before Game 6 anthem.

Last time I spoke to KD for my book (https://t.co/ZNyLbzFQGF), we recalled how protests over a police killing in 2018 nearly shut down a game and how the injustice hadn't stopped. "No," he said, "and it won't." (10/15) pic.twitter.com/hb9a3VmwZr

— Matt Sullivan (@sullduggery) June 24, 2021

Kyrie and Kevin Durant didn’t make it a whole thing that they were boycotting the National Anthem. They just continued to subtly not take part in the song all season long.

Irving has been outspoken about injustice and systemic racism in the past, and I guess he just saw this as an opportunity to put his money where his mouth is.

Low key, I have no problem with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving going about their protest their own way all season long. Take this as you will, though …

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