As Kyrie Irving gets set to take on the Nets for the first time since demanding a trade last season, the point guard pointed to the media as a reason why things became toxic in Brooklyn.
“I was never on bad terms with the organization,” Irving said Thursday, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “I just think there was a lot of chaos and noise, as usual, from the media. I’m not going to blame you guys or anything, but nobody really knew what was going on behind the scenes.
“But for me, it was the best decision of my career to ask for a trade. I knew I needed peace of mind.”
Irving was mired in all kinds of controversy during his time in Brooklyn, from missing a large chunk of the 2020-21 season due to his stance on getting a COVID-19 vaccine, then was suspended after promoting a video containing anti-Semitic material the following season. He asked for a trade after the Nets were reluctant to give him the contract extension he was looking for.
Irving was eventually traded to the Mavericks for Dorian Finney-Smith, two second-round picks, an unprotected first-round pick, and a reunion with Spencer Dinwiddie.
If it were up to Irving, it would have been a cleaner, and more immediate, break with Brooklyn.
“Brooklyn should have just released me, and it would've made things a lot easier on everybody,” Irving said. “But, 20/20 hindsight.”