Just a few days ago Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant they were still partners Nets. As of today both the superstars are out Brooklyn. The night Irving made his debut Dallas Mavericksthe NBA world was struck with his news The Durant trade to the Suns.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the deal, with Durant and TJ Warren headed to Phoenix for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks and a trade of first-round picks. Irving, when the news broke, had already completed his debut with Dallas: he scored 24 points in their victory over the Clippers.
Kyrie in his Mavs debut:
24 PTS (high team)
4 REB
5 AST
4 3pm
W pic.twitter.com/Woshjcob9U
—NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2023
When Irving first spoke to the media after a game as a member of the Mavericks, he was, of course, asked for his thoughts on Durant leaving Brooklyn.
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“There was never a time when I felt that he was angry with me for the sins I committed, or that I was angry with him.” Irving began. “We just try to understand each other and we grow as people, we grow as brothers. This business is changing very quickly. It’s getting a little old, I’m getting a little old, I just love the competition, now that we can be in the same conference, and I welcome it all. I’ll see him a little more, probably play a lot more against Phoenix”, continuous.
“That’s what excites me. Everything else, I’m glad you got out of there”, projection.
Kyrie on Kevin Durant being traded from Brooklyn to Phoenix: ‘I’m just glad he’s out of there.’ Kyrie also noted that “there was never a moment where I felt like he was mad at me for the decisions I’ve made.”
🎥: @MarkG_Medina pic.twitter.com/omjHXKjUiK
—Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 9, 2023
The last sentence carried some weight in his response, sounding relieved for the friend he left behind after requesting to transfer from Brooklyn last week.
Although Durant never expressed a trade request in the days following the deal that sent Irving to Dallas, there were several reports suggesting the teams were positioning themselves in case the 13-time All-Star decided he wanted out of Brooklyn (a another time).
According to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, he was a “collaborative effort” between the Nets and Durant’s camp to find the right situation, and now one of the all-time leading scorers will team up with Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.
The two former teammates can mark their calendars for Sunday, March 5, when the Irving Mavericks host the Durant Suns at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
