Inside The Nets

Kyrie Irving at peace with his Brooklyn return, still glad to fulfill his childhood dream of being a Net

After an embattled run repping the Nets, Kyrie hoped for peace as he left Brooklyn.

Peter Sunjic

© John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
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This Tuesday marked the first anniversary of Kyrie Irving's exit from Brooklyn, which became official as he was transferred to the Dallas Mavericks. And it's no coincidence that he also managed to play today against his former Nets team in front of the Barclays Center.

Looking back, his successful trade request to leave Brooklyn was more about pursuing personal peace.

"I mean, I don't want to get too deep into it because I love protecting the people that I'm in business with, even if it doesn't work out," Irving said. "I just think it was time to get my own peace of mind and go somewhere where I was able to thrive and be in a situation where I didn't have to worry about kind of behind-the-back talk or the media talk or not knowing how to handle real-life circumstances that has nothing to do with the game of basketball."

“It has everything to do with how you handle someone as a person. While I was here, I learned a lot of lessons. I've made my peace again, like I said, and I just want to move forward.”

Leave the past behind

For Irving, the departure was more of a soul searching for tranquility. But for the entire Nets organization and its fanbase, it served as a relieving conclusion after a forgettable chapter of the franchise's history.

From joining the franchise in 2019 filled with hopes and lofty aspirations, Irving's three-and-a-half seasons of running as a Net ended up bitterly and chaotically – filled with failures and controversies. Other than his off-court stands and shenanigans that placed him and the entire team at the center of the league's intrigue, Brooklyn crumbled into a massive disappointment of failing to win a championship even though it boasted a formidable superteam group that featured Kevin Durant and James Harden.

It has been a rough experience filled with “What-Ifs”, but Kyrie is hoping that he and his former team can finally move forward in different paths.

"Things could have changed, and you look back at the past, and you have 20-20 vision, [like] this could've gone right or if this would've happened," Kyrie said. "If I didn't get injured versus the Bucks, do I still ask for a trade? If KD's foot wasn't on the 3-point line, are we talking about a different legacy here? If James doesn't ask for a trade — all the woulda, coulda, shoulda, wouldas, hopefully after this night, we can just put that to rest and just move forward, and I can look forward to the rest of my career and just handle it in Dallas and going after my second championship.”

A childhood dream fulfilled

In his return to Brooklyn, Irving came out firing to help Dallas secure a 119-107 road victory. He poured 36 points (21 in the first half), which was emphatically highlighted by a one-handed alley-oop jam.

As he was introduced before the game, Brooklyn didn't flash any video tribute to honor his time as a Net. Instead, a simple “Welcome Back” message was presented by the team to the All-Star guard, and the graphics involved him, Seth Curry, and Markieff Morris.

Conflicting cheers and boos have been roaring from the crowd whenever he has the ball. But regardless of what has happened throughout his time as their former franchise star, he couldn't be more blessed and thankful to cherish the opportunity of representing his hometown team.

"Everything that I've learned about myself has come from being in the city and being in Jersey," Irving said. "So when I got an opportunity to play for the New Jersey Nets or play for the Brooklyn Nets — I always make that mistake — it was a childhood dream.”

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

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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.

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