The Brooklyn Nets have been through a bit of a rough patch of late, but a very minimal slice of the blame, if any, can be assigned to Kyrie Irving, who has been every bit the game-changing point guard he was billed as. Concurrent with his success next to Kevin Durant on the floor, Irving has also been making waves for his off-court actions.
Irving’s charitable spirit has been on display for a long time, with his donation of food and KN95 masks to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation standing out as one of the most impactful uses of his giving spirit. The fact he bought a house for the family of George Floyd without much bombast also speaks to his desire to improve the lives of those he cares about.
This week, Irving and his business empire took the next step in philanthropy and announced the creation of KAI Eleven Consulting LLC, a business consulting firm that is looking to help underrepresented entrepreneurs get off the ground and on the way to success. Diversity and access to a group of mentors are at the heart of this new venture.
This movement, which partnered with a venture capital firm, raised $25 million to invest in about 20 businesses. Between this move and paying for the tuition of a handful of students attending a historically Black college, Irving is doing everything he can to create wealth for the next generation.
Kyrie Irving & KAI Family Enterprise announces KAI Eleven Consulting, LLC, a business consulting firm created to help underrepresented entrepreneurs. KAI 11 Consulting provides programs and mentoring that give business owners and personnel access to established diverse mentors.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 10, 2021
Brooklyn Nets: Kyrie Irving continues to give back.
“Traditional business growth opportunities have disproportionately excluded various minorities, tremendously limiting access and creating mistrust,” Irving said. “KAI Eleven Consulting’s business model seeks to provide a more equitable process that eliminates systemic barriers to entry.”
Their first investment includes $500,000 for Fleeting, an Atlanta-based, Black-owned trucking company. One of the mission statements of this company is hiring women that were formerly incarcerated.
Irving hasn’t lost one shred of quality on the court, as he is averaging 27.4 points and 6.2 assists per game, all the while fasting during the day in observance of Ramadan. What he has been doing over the last few weeks borders on the superhuman given the circumstances around him.
At this point, anyone still critical of Irving off the court (and on the court as well, if we’re being honest) isn’t taking the time to really look at the impact he is having. Irving’s latest business is helping give back to a community that Irving holds in very high esteem, and it shows that he is willing to help grow the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Can Brooklyn Nets hold off Milwaukee Bucks to secure two seed?
Based on how that schedule looks, the Brooklyn Nets holding off the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 2 seed could be easier than it sounds.