LOS ANGELES – National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar LeBron James on Thursday said that Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving should be allowed back on court after the anti-Semitism furore that saw the Nets suspend him.

The fallout continues two weeks after Irving posted a social media link to a film widely denounced as anti-Semitic, with Nike co-founder Phil Knight saying that the apparel giant’s relationship with him is likely severed for good.

“I would doubt that we go back,” Knight told CNBC in an interview that aired on Thursday. “But I don’t know for sure.”

Nike last seek announced it was “suspending” its relationship with Irving, cancelling the launch of the Kyrie 8 shoe that was to have become available in November.

Nike’s move came in the wake of the Nets’ suspension of Irving for at least five games over his “failure to disavow anti-Semitism” either on social media or in meetings with reporters.

It was only hours after the suspension was issued that Irving offered an apology on Instagram, and James indicated on Thursday that he believed that should be enough to see Irving reinstated.

The Nets have outlined a series of steps that Irving must take before they end his suspension, including sensitivity training and meetings with Jewish leaders and anti-hate groups.

“I told you guys I don’t believe in sharing hurtful information,” James tweeted. “I’ll continue to be that way but Kyrie apologised, he should be able to play. That’s what I think.“It’s that simple. Help him learn – but he should be playing. What he’s asked to do to get back on the floor I think is excessive. He’s not the person that’s being portrayed of him.”

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who is vice-president of the National Basketball Players’ Association, said this week that the six steps outlined by the Nets for Irving’s reinstatement “seem like a lot” and told the Boston Globe that some players had “expressed discomfort” with them.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver also said he met Irving earlier this week and that he did not believe the guard was anti-Semitic, Yahoo Sports reported on Thursday.

“Based on what he said directly, to me (I) have no doubt that he’s not anti-Semitic but there’s a process that he’s going to now need to go through,” Silver said in Washington, according to the website. AFP, REUTERS