'Lots of Love!' Kyrie Irving Ready for Mavs Home Debut
DALLAS — When the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, it'll mark the first time that Kyrie Irving has played a game at the American Airlines Center as a home team member.
“A lot of cheers, a lot of love,” Irving said of what he expects in his first home game. “Just grateful my family can be a part of it and be welcomed by the Dallas area and be welcomed by the organization and my teammates. That’s what I’m most looking forward to.
“It’ll be a special night, just for myself personally and the journey I’ve taken from the summertime, working on my game, not knowing that I’d be working toward a season with the Brooklyn Nets and that midseason, I’d be working toward a successful season with the Dallas Mavericks.”
Irving has participated in a first home game with various teams throughout his NBA career, between after the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him, after being traded to the Boston Celtics, and after signing with the Brooklyn Nets. While it'll be nothing new to him, he greatly appreciates the experience.
“The loud cheers really mean a lot to me and the support,” Irving said. “So I’m excited to bring my game to Dallas and excite those fans.
“I don’t think they’ve seen anything like me before. So I’m excited.”
Irving has produced an impressive start to his Mavs career by averaging 25.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. He's doing so while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor, 42.3 percent from beyond the arc, and being perfect on free throws.
Those results are all the more impressive when accounting for a hectic travel schedule after being traded to a team on a West Coast road trip. Before joining the team in Los Angeles for his only practice as a Maverick, Irving underwent his physical in Dallas at the team's facility for the trade to be finalized. He then had to join the team and practiced at USC just four hours after landing.
Irving will only get to participate in one home game before representing the organization alongside Luka Doncic at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. There will surely be added anticipation from the home crowd as a result.
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