Kyrie Irving on Facing Nets After Mavericks Trade: 'It Was Just Another Game'
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving downplayed the fact that he faced his former team, the Brooklyn Nets, on Friday night.
According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, when asked what it was like to face the Nets for the first time since they traded him to the Mavs last season, Irving made it clear that it didn't feel much different to him than any other game: "It was just another game to be honest with you. I don't know if it's just a media thing against your former team to have this angst, this anger going against them. But for me personally, it was just another game going against some of my brothers."
Dallas prevailed at home 125-120 despite Kyrie largely struggling to the tune of 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting, plus seven rebounds and six assists.
After successful stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, the 31-year-old Irving spent parts of four seasons in Brooklyn and earned two All-Star selections during that time.
He arrived in Brooklyn alongside Kevin Durant in hopes of bringing a championship to the organization, and the Nets later acquired James Harden as well, but they were never able to take the team any further than the second round of the playoffs.
Additionally, Irving's Nets tenure was plagued by several things, as he consistently missed time because of numerous ailments and opted against getting the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic.
Brooklyn also suspended Irving in November 2022 for promoting an antisemitic movie via social media.
The Mavs acquired Irving in hopes of getting a second superstar to play alongside Luka Dončić and going on a deep playoff run, and while Kyrie averaged 27.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 20 games for Dallas last season, the team surprisingly missed the playoffs.
Despite that, Dallas signed Irving to a three-year, $126 million contract this past offseason and fully committed to him and Dončić as their core.
Early returns so far this season are good, as the Mavericks are off to a 2-0 start even with Irving averaging a fairly modest 19.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per contest.
Meanwhile, the Nets are 0-2, as they are trying to build around younger players such as Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas.
In Irving, the Mavs have an eight-time All-Star and one-time NBA champion who is arguably one of the most talented players in NBA history when he is healthy and on the court.
If the Mavs can get 65 to 70 games of Kyrie and Luka together this season, they have a chance to be among the top seeds in the Western Conference and a title contender.
