Kyrie Irving has spoken out at length about the imploded Brooklyn Nets super team. While Kevin Durant criticized the lack of investment in the team, Irving countered that the franchise only really wanted Durant.
It all started with comments made by Durant on the Mind the Game podcast, when he and former coach Steve Nash philosophized about why the Nets’ superteam featuring KD, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden only won one playoff series. Among other things, Durant said that both Irving and Harden weren’t fully committed.
Irving countered these statements in a Twitch stream. “In hindsight, I have to say that I didn’t know the people there well enough. Did they want me? Sure. But Coach Kenny Atkinson had other priorities. They wanted Kevin, but that’s just my take on it.”
In 2019, both Durant and Irving joined the Nets, and Harden later joined via trade from Houston. Atkinson had long since been fired, and rookie coach Nash was installed in his place – without Kyrie being asked. Instead, Irving caused a stir elsewhere. He refused to get vaccinated and shared an anti-Semitic video. On top of that, Kyrie could only be used in away games for a while.
Irving admits mistakes
“I agreed blindly at the time and then had no say in the matter,” Irving reported. “I couldn’t help the players, I couldn’t have a say in which coach was hired.” Irving added that he himself wasn’t mature enough at the time. Instead, he even asked Brooklyn if they would fire him right away.
However, this was not an option, and in February 2023, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where Irving found a new home. Alongside Luka Doncic, the Mavs reached the NBA Finals in 2024, but lost 1-4 to the Boston Celtics. The guard is currently recovering from a serious knee injury, having torn his cruciate ligament in March.
