Dallas Mavs' Kyrie Irving Calls Trade Request 'Best Decision' of NBA Career

Mavs superstar Kyrie Irving called his trade request to be moved from the Nets the best decision of his NBA career ahead of their matchup.

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving committed to remain with the Dallas Mavericks in free agency, describing the team as No. 1 on his list of possible destinations. The relationship between the All-Star guard and the Mavs began due to a trade request ending his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets. 

Before Friday's matchup against the Nets, marking the first game he'll have played against his former team since being traded, Irving called his decision to ask out the best of his NBA career. 

"It was the best decision of my career, just to be able to ask for a trade," Irving said. "I knew I needed peace of mind. It was rough all the way around after COVID and after the situations that took place there, circumstances that were either in my control or out of my control."

Despite requesting a trade, Irving never felt being on bad terms with the organization and still doesn't to this point. He wasn't interested in pointers fingers in public comments when reflecting on the situation, but he feels that New York City media coverage created chaos 

"I was never on bad terms with the organization. I think there was a lot of chaos and noise, as usual, from the media," Irving said. "I’m not going to blame you guys or anything. But again, nobody really knew what was going on behind the scenes. And I’m sure that people have their sources they go to what was going on, and what really happened."

Dallas Mavericks superstar Kyrie Irving / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

At this stage, Irving wants to focus on his opportunity with the Mavs instead of rehashing his time with the Nets. Naturally, with some of the New York media in town, the topic of his availability was about his time in Brooklyn. 

"Being in New York, the media capital of the world, I think people hold on to the weight of my words, and I’m not trying to put anybody in that predicament here or in Brooklyn," Irving said. "I’m just really trying to move past that man, and hopefully everybody does the same.”

Irving finished his performance in the Mavs' 126-119 regular season-opening victory over the San Antonio Spurs with 22 points and six assists. He shot 10-24 from the floor despite being 1-8 from beyond the arc.