US basketball player Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets said on Saturday that he offered his “sincere apologies” after the team suspended him earlier this month for posting anti-Semitic content on social media, Reuters reported.

Irving was listed as questionable for Sunday’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Nets have kept him off the court for the past eight games after he “refused to state unequivocally that he has no anti-Semitic beliefs.”

He told local sports network SNY on Saturday that he was not anti-Semitic and just wanted to “set an example.”

“I have no hatred in my heart for the Jewish people or anyone who considers themselves Jewish. The hardest part is just processing it all, understanding the power of my voice, the impact I have. I am not someone’s idol, but I am a person who wants to influence and change the situation” – Kyrie Irving.

Irving faced a lot of criticism after tweeting a link to an anti-Semitic 2018 documentary and defending it last month. He later said it contained “false anti-Semitic statements” and apologized “for publishing a documentary out of context”.

Following this incident, Nike suspended its contract with Irving and canceled the next model of Irving-branded basketball shoes.

Saturday’s interview is the most direct apology Irving (a seven-time NBA All-Star) has made since being suspended on Nov. 3.

“I really want to focus on the damage I’ve done. I just want to apologize for all my actions in the time since I posted this. I had a lot of time to think” – Kyrie Irving.