LeBron tweets Kyrie Irving should play after apologizing, calls Nets penalty 'excessive'

LeBron James thinks Kyrie Irving's penalty for refusing to say he had no anti-Semitic beliefs is "excessive."

The Brooklyn Nets banned Irving for at least five games without pay last Thursday. The organization says it has laid out a step-by-step plan that Irving must fulfill before he is reinstated, but has not made those requirements public.

James' tweet comes two days after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met with Irving.

"I told you guys that I don’t believe in sharing hurtful information," James wrote. "And I’ll continue to be that way but Kyrie apologized and he should be able to play. That’s what I think. It’s that simple."

Following the L.A. Lakers-Utah Jazz game last week, James told reporters: "I don't condone any hate to any kind. To any race. To Jewish communities, to Black communities, to Asian communities. You guys know where I stand." The Lakers star also stated that Kyrie did cause harm but "can't speak for 450 players."

James continued his tweet Thursday by defending Irving's character.

"Help him learn- but he should be playing," James wrote. "What he’s asked to do to get back on the floor I think is excessive IMO (in my opinion). He’s not the person that’s being portrayed of him. Anyways back to my rehab session."

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Irving has been under continuous fire since his social media post last month highlighedthe film "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America."

After being suspended from games, Irving eventually issued an apology in an Instagram post to those "hurt from the hateful remarks made in the documentary."

Before meeting face-to-face with Irving, Silver said in a statement last Thursday he was disappointed Irving “has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize.”

Contact Analis Bailey at aabailey@usatoday.com or on Twitter @analisbailey.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron tweets Kyrie should play, penalty 'excessive' after apology