Kyrie Irving says he doesn't stand for "hate speech" as he returns to Nets

• “I feel like we all should have an opportunity to speak for ourselves when things are assumed about us and I feel it was necessary for me to stand in this place and take accountability for my actions, because there was a way I should have handled all this and as I look back and reflect when I had the opportunity to offer my deep regrets to anyone that felt threatened or felt hurt by what I posted, that wasn’t my intent at all," he added, according to AP.

The big picture: The Nets suspended him for at least five games without pay but he ended up missing a total of eight during the suspension.

• The team said he will be available to play against Memphis on Sunday night.
• Irving also apologized for the link after he was suspended through an Instagram post, acknowledging that the film contained false, antisemitic language.

Go deeper: Irving's Nike deal suspended, shoe launch canceled amid controversy