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Kyrie Irving wants to move past his history with the Nets ahead of his first game against Brooklyn: "I don’t want to play the blame game"
Despite delivering brilliant performances in nearly every game, All-Star guard Kyrie Irving faced a tumultuous period during his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets. His stint was marred with off-court issues that led to public spats with Nets Governor Joe Tsai.
This led to a trade to the Dallas Mavericks in February 2023, where he continues to play, forming an elite backcourt with Luka Doncic. The Nets are set to visit Dallas to play the Mavericks, and Kyrie has noted that there is no bad blood with the Nets organization.
“After the situations that took place there, circumstances that were in my control and weren’t under my control. I don’t want to play the blame game,” Kyrie said. “I had a media interview, and I said there were some disrespectful things said behind the scenes and that happens in every organization.”
Irving wants to move forward with the Mavs
During the 2023 offseason, the Mavs came to an agreement with the veteran guard on a three-year contract worth $126 million. Committed to the team, Kyrie forms a dynamic duo with Luka, both boasting the capability of scoring 25+ points on any given night.
“I just wanted to be myself, the last few years, just figuring myself out. So I think this is the best place to do it and continue to mature and grow as a man.” Irving said about his decision to stay in Dallas.
He will be a good matchup for the young Nets
Irving will have his hands full against the Nets in this upcoming game as the players will look to bounce back from a tough 113-114 loss vs the Cavaliers. Simultaneously, the Nets boast tenacious defenders in Ben Simmons, Mikal Bridges, and Dennis Smith Jr., all renowned for their top-tier defensive skills, who will make life on the perimeter more challenging for Uncle Drew.
Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith are expected to bring extra motivation to the game, given that they were the primary assets traded for Irving in February. Both players have a personal stake in this matchup, having played pivotal roles in the previous team's Western Conference Finals run in 2021.
