“[The Nets] didn’t want to pay him. So what is he playing for? If you’re not trying to pay him in a contract year with this good team, and everybody else is paid, [Kevin Durant] is paid [with a max extension],” Morris said. “Kyrie did everything that you needed to do. … So just go to another team. And now we’re in the finals.” In retrospect, the trade was terrible for the Nets, who fell to 11th in the East last season and just hired their fourth coach in about four years.
Source: New York Post
Source: New York Post
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
ICYMI: Kyrie Irving is dazzling with Mavericks after failed Brooklyn stint, by @SbondyNBA #nets nypost.com/2024/06/07/spo… – 10:10 AM
ICYMI: Kyrie Irving is dazzling with Mavericks after failed Brooklyn stint, by @SbondyNBA #nets nypost.com/2024/06/07/spo… – 10:10 AM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
ICYMI: the Celtics are leaving Luka and Kyrie with no place to hide theringer.com/nba/2024/6/7/2… – 9:51 AM
ICYMI: the Celtics are leaving Luka and Kyrie with no place to hide theringer.com/nba/2024/6/7/2… – 9:51 AM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Kyrie Irving. Much more here, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/55498… pic.twitter.com/uWRtjI0U5w – 10:28 PM
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Kyrie Irving. Much more here, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/55498… pic.twitter.com/uWRtjI0U5w – 10:28 PM
Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Keef Morris explains why Kyrie wanted out of BK:
“They didn’t want to pay him. So what is he playing for? If you’re not trying to pay him in a contract year with this good team, and everybody else is paid. …So just leave. And now we’re in the finals.”
nypost.com/2024/06/07/spo… – 9:54 PM
Keef Morris explains why Kyrie wanted out of BK:
“They didn’t want to pay him. So what is he playing for? If you’re not trying to pay him in a contract year with this good team, and everybody else is paid. …So just leave. And now we’re in the finals.”
nypost.com/2024/06/07/spo… – 9:54 PM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
Very interesting reflections today from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who discussed Kyrie Irving’s journey from those tumultuous times with Brooklyn to this return to the Finals stage with Dallas. Much more here, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/55498… – 8:21 PM
Very interesting reflections today from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who discussed Kyrie Irving’s journey from those tumultuous times with Brooklyn to this return to the Finals stage with Dallas. Much more here, at @TheAthletic
nytimes.com/athletic/55498… – 8:21 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
The Mavs are 11-2 when Kyrie has 0 free throw attempts this season (including playoffs).
Those two losses? The Boston Celtics. pic.twitter.com/lGFDUZU372 – 5:26 PM
The Mavs are 11-2 when Kyrie has 0 free throw attempts this season (including playoffs).
Those two losses? The Boston Celtics. pic.twitter.com/lGFDUZU372 – 5:26 PM
Kane Pitman @KanePitman
Big @KendrickPerkins jumped on with us postgame to discuss the return of Kristaps Porzingis, a quiet night for Kyrie Irving and plenty more.
youtube.com/watch?v=SJyVWF… – 5:08 PM
Big @KendrickPerkins jumped on with us postgame to discuss the return of Kristaps Porzingis, a quiet night for Kyrie Irving and plenty more.
youtube.com/watch?v=SJyVWF… – 5:08 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
I’m not a Kyrie Irving fan but this is absolutely the dumbest way to talk about basketball pic.twitter.com/HORNdPlwyu – 4:05 PM
I’m not a Kyrie Irving fan but this is absolutely the dumbest way to talk about basketball pic.twitter.com/HORNdPlwyu – 4:05 PM
Tim Cato @tim_cato
“Luka’s learned discipline seeing Kai’s everyday routine. And I really believe Kai, with Luka, learned to have joy in the way he plays.”
on Abu Dhabi, Spain, time, patience, and the “forever connected” bond Luka and Kyrie have developed: nytimes.com/athletic/55470… – 2:55 PM
“Luka’s learned discipline seeing Kai’s everyday routine. And I really believe Kai, with Luka, learned to have joy in the way he plays.”
on Abu Dhabi, Spain, time, patience, and the “forever connected” bond Luka and Kyrie have developed: nytimes.com/athletic/55470… – 2:55 PM
Bill Reiter @sportsreiter
Back on @CBSSportsNet at 2p ET for another Beyond The Arc alongside @AshNicoleMoss & @JohnGonzalez. Talking Game 1, Luka’s solo act, Kyrie’s struggles, Celtics domination, Kristaps epic return, Lakers coaching-search latest & more. – 1:42 PM
Back on @CBSSportsNet at 2p ET for another Beyond The Arc alongside @AshNicoleMoss & @JohnGonzalez. Talking Game 1, Luka’s solo act, Kyrie’s struggles, Celtics domination, Kristaps epic return, Lakers coaching-search latest & more. – 1:42 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
Luka and Kyrie are facing a Celtics offense that can torture them over and over again.
@MichaelVPina: theringer.com/nba/2024/6/7/2… – 1:03 PM
Luka and Kyrie are facing a Celtics offense that can torture them over and over again.
@MichaelVPina: theringer.com/nba/2024/6/7/2… – 1:03 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Kyrie Irving on the boos in Boston, ‘I thought it was going to be a little louder in here’
nbcsports.com/nba/news/kyrie… – 11:49 AM
Kyrie Irving on the boos in Boston, ‘I thought it was going to be a little louder in here’
nbcsports.com/nba/news/kyrie… – 11:49 AM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
New @ringer: Coming out of Game 1, I wrote about Boston’s comfortably aggressive offense, and how it leaves Luka and Kyrie with no place to hide: theringer.com/nba/2024/6/7/2… – 11:11 AM
New @ringer: Coming out of Game 1, I wrote about Boston’s comfortably aggressive offense, and how it leaves Luka and Kyrie with no place to hide: theringer.com/nba/2024/6/7/2… – 11:11 AM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Used this week’s Four Rounds NBA playoffs column for some Game 1 overreactions.
1️⃣ Kyrie needs to be more than a highlight reel
2️⃣ Jaylen Brown… Finals MVP?
3️⃣ The Kristaps Porzingis trade
4️⃣ Sam Hauser = “Luka stopper”
For @FanSided/@The_Step_Back
fansided.com/posts/four-rou… – 11:00 AM
Used this week’s Four Rounds NBA playoffs column for some Game 1 overreactions.
1️⃣ Kyrie needs to be more than a highlight reel
2️⃣ Jaylen Brown… Finals MVP?
3️⃣ The Kristaps Porzingis trade
4️⃣ Sam Hauser = “Luka stopper”
For @FanSided/@The_Step_Back
fansided.com/posts/four-rou… – 11:00 AM
Todd Whitehead @CrumpledJumper
Unassisted 3PM in Game 1:
Doncic – 4 (of 10)
Tatum – 2 (of 6)
Brown – 1 (of 1)
Irving – 0 (of 3)
Holiday, Pritchard, Hardy each missed one before garbage time as well. – 10:31 AM
Unassisted 3PM in Game 1:
Doncic – 4 (of 10)
Tatum – 2 (of 6)
Brown – 1 (of 1)
Irving – 0 (of 3)
Holiday, Pritchard, Hardy each missed one before garbage time as well. – 10:31 AM
Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
New story: The blaring sound of boos began well before the ball was tipped. The most blatant form of Boston’s displeasure with their former point guard came in the form of a unified chant: “Kyrie sucks!”
“I thought it was gonna be a little louder in here.”dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 10:02 AM
New story: The blaring sound of boos began well before the ball was tipped. The most blatant form of Boston’s displeasure with their former point guard came in the form of a unified chant: “Kyrie sucks!”
“I thought it was gonna be a little louder in here.”dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 10:02 AM
Bill Reiter @sportsreiter
Friday show! I’m live from Boston from 10-noon ET: Celtics crush Mavs, Kyrie shrinks, Kristaps shines, McDaniel’s mind games, @Sedano, Buy/Sell, Bum Of The Week, three awkward moments, @PrettyDaddyRTY.
LISTEN:
ReiterThanYou.com
@AudacySports
@SIRIUSXM 158
@InfSportsNet – 9:45 AM
Friday show! I’m live from Boston from 10-noon ET: Celtics crush Mavs, Kyrie shrinks, Kristaps shines, McDaniel’s mind games, @Sedano, Buy/Sell, Bum Of The Week, three awkward moments, @PrettyDaddyRTY.
LISTEN:
ReiterThanYou.com
@AudacySports
@SIRIUSXM 158
@InfSportsNet – 9:45 AM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Kyrie Irving on Boston fans: “I thought it was going to be a little louder in here.” pic.twitter.com/vifAhcp7kw – 9:27 AM
Kyrie Irving on Boston fans: “I thought it was going to be a little louder in here.” pic.twitter.com/vifAhcp7kw – 9:27 AM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Kyrie Irving’s Game 1 dud vs. Celtics extends three-year winless streak against former team
cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-f… – 9:13 AM
Kyrie Irving’s Game 1 dud vs. Celtics extends three-year winless streak against former team
cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-f… – 9:13 AM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
From @MikeACurtis2:
Calm, collected Kyrie Irving offers some perspective after off night in Mavs’ Game 1 loss dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 8:43 AM
From @MikeACurtis2:
Calm, collected Kyrie Irving offers some perspective after off night in Mavs’ Game 1 loss dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 8:43 AM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Why was Kyrie Irving holding a basketball after Mavericks’ Game 1 loss? dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 8:38 AM
Why was Kyrie Irving holding a basketball after Mavericks’ Game 1 loss? dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 8:38 AM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Kyrie Irving takes jab at Celtics fans after Game 1 loss: ‘I thought it was gonna be a little louder in here’
cbssports.com/nba/news/kyrie… – 8:01 AM
Kyrie Irving takes jab at Celtics fans after Game 1 loss: ‘I thought it was gonna be a little louder in here’
cbssports.com/nba/news/kyrie… – 8:01 AM
More on this storyline
The highlight of Irving’s tenure was the 2021 run to the conference semifinals, where the Nets had homecourt advantage and a 2-0 lead against the Bucks. Then Irving sprained his ankle on Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 3, and the Nets dropped a heartbreaking series. The Bucks won the title. “If Giannis ain’t put his foot under [Irving], they would’ve had a championship,” said Morris, who was playing for the Lakers at the time. “Milwaukee would still be without a championship. “I know so. They were going to get swept. They know that. You can ask anybody on their team,” added Morris, pointing out that former Bucks point guard Jeff Teague said the same on his podcast. -via New York Post / June 8, 2024
Though Irving has only alluded to feeling “disrespected” by the Nets, his teammate explained it further in an interview with The Post. “It was time for his contract extension, the two sides didn’t meet up, business got involved, and that’s what happened. That’s how it goes,” Markieff Morris, who was traded with Irving from Brooklyn to Dallas last year, said. “I think Kyrie was averaging about 27 [points] at the time. I think we won 18 out of 20 and all of a sudden the business got involved. That’s how it goes sometimes. A guy of Kyrie’s stature, I wouldn’t be standing for that either. Get me up out of there.” -via New York Post / June 8, 2024
Adam Silver: “There was no doubt for me — and I wouldn’t have said what I did at the time if I didn’t feel that he was absolutely remorseful and was committed to doing the right thing going forward, and also to being empathetic to how others might have perceived his comments.” -via New York Times / June 7, 2024
To the Mavericks’ credit, they have created the environment to help draw the best out of Irving. Kidd as the coach he has respected more than any other. Nico Harrison as the GM constantly backing him after their many years together as partners at Nike. Longtime friend God Shammgod to work with Irving daily as a Mavericks assistant coach. Markieff Morris as the veteran teammate Irving leans on — so valued behind the scenes that Kidd tried to make the argument the other day that Morris has “actually been the MVP for the season for us.” -via marcstein.substack.com / May 31, 2024
Tim MacMahon: Mavs rookie center Dereck Lively II, a major force in this series, took an inadvertent knee to the head from Karl-Anthony Towns. Lively woozily walked off the floor with an arm around Markieff Morris after staying down for a couple of minutes. -via Twitter @espn_macmahon / May 26, 2024