Kyrie Irving on Being with Dallas Mavs: 'Grateful I'm Here'
Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving is one of the more multiplex superstars that we have in both the NBA and professional sports all together.
On this week's episode of 'Headliners with Rachel Nichols', she spoke with both Irving and Luka Doncic on their journeys and and on the Mavs' team this season. For Irving, he reflected on being drafted in 2011 and how he 'could have used' an environment and culture that the Mavericks have.
"I just think in my heart in 2011, me getting drafted as a young person," Irving said, "needing a lot of mentorship, needing a lot of nurturing, I can look back and have 20/20 vision and think - I could have used this."
This isn't the first time the Irving has spoke on wishing he was drafted by Dallas, as the feeling of community, transparency, and the sense of being able to express himself is something Irving hasn't felt in every stop in his career.
Mavs' Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving share an embrace against the Utah Jazz.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
"In present day, I'm just grateful that I'm here," Irving said. "I'm able to identify the things that one would need to be successful at the highest level. All I care about is winning. It's all I've cared about since I came into the league."
The Mavs have surrounded Irving and Doncic with people in the organization who can relate to them and speak their language, such as head coach Jason Kidd, assistant coach Jared Dudley, president of basketball operations/GM Nico Harrison, VP of basketball operations Michael Finley, and of course, it doesn't hurt having alternate governor Mark Cuban around, as well.
"I knew that if I gave myself a chance to be around people that knew more than me, that were smarter than me in certain instances that I can learn from, then I can be the best version of myself," Irving said. "Being here in Dallas affords that."
