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Kyrie Irving took the floor Wednesday night with a heavy heart.
Irving hadn't played since his mentor Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in California, which claimed the lives of eight other people including Bryant's daughter, Gianna.
The Nets honored Bryant, Gianna as well as the other victims from the crash prior to their meeting with the Pistons. In December, Bryant and his daughter sat courtside at the Nets game. The clip of the Lakers great and Gianna discussing the game went viral and continued to do so after their passing. The same seats — with the exception of flowers — were left unoccupied in an emotional pregame tribute.
Irving scored 20 points against Detroit. The Nets won their second of their last three games, but that wasn't on Irving's mind following the game. Irving spoke to reporters for the first time since he lost his mentor.
"It's hard to even just conjure up the words," Irving told ESPN after the game. "You try to find a clear-cut message that you would send Gigi and Kobe and everybody who lost their lives in such a tragedy like that it's hard, but — I've been trying to do this the last few days, just try to get ready for a moment like this but I just got to let it be, let it flow. I know he's down watching as well as Gigi as well as the young ball players that were on the (helicopter) as well. I was just with them at the Mamba Academy, working out in the summertime...
"He left a lot of teachings or a lot of breadcrumbs, I call them," Irving continued. "I just followed all of them. I followed every single one and that probably pays a lot of focus into the person I am today. ... I saw what he was creating and I wanted that same structure. He had his own company, his own belief system, his own principles that he lived by. He didn't five a f— what anyone said. I think having that type of strength — I think the most important thing he always embodied was when someone asked him a question, 'how do you do it Kobe?' ... he would say the best shot is the next shot. It was what he helped you see inside of yourself."