Kyrie Irving told reporters after Wednesday's win over the Pacers that it was a debut unlike any other, even when compared to the many others he has had over years of basketball stardom.
It is also a debut his teammates won't forget, particularly his fellow superstars that were able to enjoy the Nets' big three together on the floor again for the first time since last year's playoffs.
"Man, it was special," James Harden said. "Felt like he's been playing all season. He looks comfortable as usual. His pace, his rhythm, he looked like Kyrie."
Irving showed some rust early on, coming up short on a couple mid-range jumpers and having a layup rejected by Myles Turner before he found his usual groove in the second quarter and went on to finish with 22 points in 32 minutes, shooting over 50 percent from the floor and finishing +16 on the night, the highest mark among Brooklyn's starting lineup.
"It was amazing to have him out there," Kevin Durant said. "I just miss his presence around the locker room. His energy, his vibe around the team. And his game is just so beautiful, it makes the game easier for everybody out there."
Irving showed flashes of his peak self in his first game back in nearly eight months, grabbing an offensive rebound in the second quarter and driving coast-to-coast and finishing a tough layup against two defenders, and in one stretch during the second half, scored 13 of Brooklyn's 26 points to lead a comeback along with a career night from DeAndre' Bembry.
"It definitely felt good to have him on the court," Harden said. "It felt really, really good."
Irving will now have to take two games off as the Nets return home, but he is officially back in the fold in a part time role, which is enough to have Brooklyn excited for what's to come in their quest to finish with the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
"It was amazing to see him out on the floor again," Durant said. "The crowd showed him so much love. The game of basketball is happy to have him back."
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
