Inside The Nets

"Thank Mayor Adams for that, bro"- Kyrie Irving answers a courtside fan

Kyrie returned to Barclays Center for the first time since the 2023 trade to Dallas.

Peter Sunjic

© John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Kyrie Irving was the headline attraction for the Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks game at the Barclays Center. The former Duke Blue Devil spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Nets and contributed to Playoff appearances and multiple standout performances.

Apart from his contributions on the court, Kyrie also had multiple controversies during his time with Brooklyn. Chief among those controversies was Irving’s refusal to play for the Nets amidst a vaccine mandate by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

“Thank Mayor Adams for that, bro,” Kyrie said to a courtside fan when asked why he couldn’t play that well when he was part of the Nets organization.

Kyrie felt his time in Brooklyn was bigger than a championship

Joining the Nets was a big decision for Irving because he left a sure-fire contender in the Boston Celtics. In his time in Brooklyn, Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden helped the organization to become a favorite to win the title.

However, COVID-19 mandates and many other controversies surrounded the team. The issues made Harden request a trade, and Irving missed plenty of games. It forever changed in early 2023 when Irving and Durant requested trades away from the Nets.

After the Mavs’ win over the Nets, Kyrie addressed the media about the situation during his time with the Brooklyn organization.

“For me, it was bigger than a championship here. I had to really take some moral stances that propelled me into a place in my life that I had to become accustomed to. There was some political things that were going on here that I couldn’t control that I was responsible for,” Irving said to the media. “There was some things that I did on my accord that I look back on, and they were mistakes, and I have to be accountable for those things.”

Irving feels the Nets are set to be good in the long run

While it did not end well between Kyrie and the organization, he believes that the team has learned from the past. The Big Three era did not end well, but that should be a lesson for the organization moving forward.

Kyrie believes the Nets have a bright future, especially with young guys like Cameron Thomas and Nic Claxton. The former Nets superstar is happy for the Nets and predicts the team will be in a good place in the long run.

Brooklyn struggles in a 107-119 loss to the visiting Dallas Mavericks

Published
Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

Home/News