Nets star Kyrie Irving, who was fined $25,000 by the NBA for refusing to speak to reporters, says he did it because he does 'not talk to Pawns'

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving said he wants his $25,000 fine for his refusing to speak to the media to help 'marginalized communities' and implied he doesn't plan to talk reporters anytime soon.

'I do not talk to Pawns,' he wrote Friday on Instagram. 'My attention is worth more.'

The NBA fined Irving and the Nets $25,000 each on Thursday for violating the league's media rules.

Nets star Kyrie Irving said he wants his $25,000 fine for his refusing to speak to the media to help 'marginalized communities' and implied he doesn't plan to talk reporters anytime soon

While referring to 'Pawns' in the media, Irving warned others against distracting him this year

'I pray we utilize the "fine money" for the marginalized communities in need, especially seeing where our world is presently,' Irving wrote.

It's unclear why he put the words 'fine money' in quotations.  

'I am here for Peace, Love, and Greatness,' he continued. 'So stop distracting me and my team, and appreciate the Art. We move different over here.' 

Irving also included a quote from Malcolm X, although he inserted a typo: 'I've had enough of someone else's propaganda. I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm fror Justice, no matter who it's for or against. I'm a human being first and foremost, and as such I am for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.' 

Irving, 28, has refused media requests for interviews since training camp started on December 1, instead choosing to issue a statement, which the NBA determined violated the policy

Irving, 28, has refused media requests for interviews since training camp started on December 1, instead choosing to issue a statement, which the NBA determined violated the policy.

'Instead of speaking to the media today, I am issuing this statement to ensure that my message is properly conveyed,' Irving's statement said, in part. 'I am committed to show up to work every day, ready to have fun, compete, perform, and win championships alongside my teammates and colleagues in the Nets organization.'

Initially a spokesperson for Irving said his first statement was not an indication that he would refuse to speak to the media in 2020-21. 

'This doesn't mean he won't do traditional media,' read the statement from Ashley Blackwood, the chief communications officer for KAI Enterprise. 'He has every intent on building a mutually respectful relationship with the media. This is his first attempt to communicate directly/effectively with the people who cover him most. 

Irving arrived in Brooklyn last year when he signed a four-year, $141 million deal. He played just 20 games before a shoulder injury ended his 2019-20 season.

The Nets are scheduled to open the preseason on Sunday against the Washington Wizards.

It's not clear why Irving is refusing to speak to the media, although he could be avoiding trade rumors involving fellow All-Star James Harden, who is reportedly seeking a move to the Nets, among other teams, according to ESPN. 

Initially a spokesperson for Irving said his first statement was not an indication that he would refuse to speak to reporters in 2020-21