Kyrie Irving: 'I Am Not The Cancer!' Dallas Mavs Star Fires Back at 'Bitter' Critics

Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving took to Twitch to lambaste what he called "bitter'' critics that have labeled him as "cancerous.''

"Me, you would think I'm the cancer in the locker room, as if basketball is an individual sport that one person is supposed to take blame for,'' Irving said. "It's 15 guys on the team, and I'm the one cancer in the room? That's what it's portrayed as, that's what you guys get that's what they have fun doing. That's why these older, bitter gentlemen and women keep my name in their mouths every day."

Irving sarcastically said he’s been called “woke,'' “crazy,” “arrogant,” and “different.”

NBACentral posted the video of Irving sounding off:

“It's 15 guys on the team and I'm the one cancer in the room. That's what it's portrayed as…these older, bitter gentlemen and women keep my name in their mouths every day”

- Kyrie Irving

(h/t @NBA_NewYork ) pic.twitter.com/wFakckwEp1
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 9, 2023

Irving has often been embroiled in controversy, including having shared a controversial post on social media in October of 2022, seemingly endorsing "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America!" -- a documentary that put forth polarizing rhetoric concerning the identity of the Israelites of The Bible.

The post garnered widespread backlash from the NBA, and national media, as well as the core Jewish population worldwide. Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai upbraided Irving soon after, unraveling a storm that occupied news cycles for weeks.

Irving apologized publicly after several attempts from the media to get him to retract sentiments.

Since the dust settled, Irving spearheaded a 12-game winning streak for Brooklyn in the months of December and January, before being moved to Dallas three days before the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline.

The Mavericks traded Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney Smith and three future first-round picks to the Nets for Irving and Markieff Morris on February 6, 2023. Since his arrival in Dallas, the Mavericks have gone 5-6 behind 27.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists from the 2023 NBA All-Star.

Kyrie Irving to heckling New Orleans Pelicans fans:

“How y’all gone tell me how to play basketball?”

A fan then responded: “You want me to tell you how to post on Amazon?”

Thoughts? 🤔@BootKreweMedia pic.twitter.com/mT4yavsDBt
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) March 9, 2023

Maybe bothered by some resurfaced tension in a Wednesday loss at New Orleans in which he responded to hecklers, Irving let loose.

There will be continued interest in Irving and Luka Doncic and the Mavs ... and there will be questions, include some that seem to bother the All-Star.

Said Irving, mocking his questioners: “'What's Ky gonna do this summer? Does Ky like Dallas? What happened in Brooklyn? What happened in Boston? What happened in Cleveland? "'Why did you leave LeBron? ... Why did you leave all of these people?''

The Mavs are 34-33 and laboring to hang on to the No. 8 spot in the NBA West.

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