Dribble, 6.2/Video editing: Ziv Steiner
After playing his first game in Brooklyn since being traded exactly one year ago, Kyrie Irving said his motivation for asking the Nets to leave was because "it's time to get my peace of mind and go to a place where I can thrive."
"I mean, I don't want to get into it too much because I like to protect the people I'm in business with, even if it doesn't work out," Irving said after scoring 36 points to lead his current team Dallas to a 107-119 victory over the Nets in Brooklyn, "Again, I I wish all those guys the best of luck. But conversations that needed to happen didn't happen before the trade deadline.
"I just think it's time to get my peace of mind and go to a place where I could thrive, and be in a position where I didn't have to worry about some kind of talking behind my back or Talking in the media or not knowing how to deal with real life circumstances that have nothing to do with the game of basketball.
It has everything to do with how you treat someone as a person."
Mention what it is worth.
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Brooklyn, as I remember, fielded an impressive group of stars, with Irving next to Kevin Durant and James Harden.
But Irving got involved in unnecessary problems and embarrassing affairs, including an anti-Semitic affair that brought negative headlines around the Nets, and of course the Corona affair - when he refused to be vaccinated, and therefore could not play in Brooklyn's home games.
Tonight, showing great ability, a Brooklyn fan asked him "Why didn't you play like that for us?", and Irving replied: "Ask Mayor Adams" - the man whose health regulations prevented Kyrie from playing in New York State as long as he was not vaccinated.
The Nets won just one playoff series in Irving and Durant's three and a half years in Brooklyn.
They were inches away from knocking off the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals — a series James Harden played almost entirely with a hamstring injury and Irving missed most of it with a sprained ankle.
But Durant stepped on the line in a crucial move, and what could have been a series-winning basket went to waste.
"Things could have changed, and when you look back at the past you realize it could have looked different," Irving said.
"If I hadn't gotten hurt against the Bucks, would I still be asking for a trade? If KD's foot hadn't stepped on the 3-point line, are we talking about a different legacy here? If James hadn't asked for a trade ... all the wishes, the possibilities , hopefully after tonight, we can just put it behind us and just move forward and I can continue to look for my second championship in Dallas."
Unlike last week, when the Nets welcomed back Kevin Durant with a video tribute during the player introduction, there was no special welcome for Irving's return.
When Irving was introduced, the big board just said "Welcome" with a picture of him next to former Brooklyn players Seth Curry and Markieff Morris.
During the game, Irving was even booed every time he had the ball.
Irving, who spent much of his childhood in New Jersey, admitted he made some mistakes during his time with the Nets, though he declined to say what exactly they were.
After the game he only tweeted: "Thank you for everything God. I have to stay focused against all the chaos and hatred. The next generation is watching me."
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