Kyrie Irving took a swipe at the Brooklyn Nets in his first conference as a player for the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
The point guard is set to finish the 2022/23 NBA season in a different uniform after requesting a trade in quite a surprising turn of events, given how smoothly things appeared to be going since Irving returned from suspension.
The Mavs, meanwhile, have parted ways with Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and second-round picks in 2027 and 2029 in order to get the deal over the line. It will be interesting to see how the eight-time All-Star slots in alongside Luka Doncic.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since Monday’s trade, Kyrie accused the Nets of disrespecting him at various points.
“There were times throughout this process when I was in Brooklyn where I felt very disrespected,” he said. “I worked extremely hard at what I do. No one ever talks about my work ethic though. Everyone talks about what I’m doing off the floor. So I just wanted to change that narrative, write my own story.”
The guard also revealed his biggest reason for wanting to leave the Nets, stating he wanted to be somewhere where he didn’t have to worry about how people feel about him when he comes to work.
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“For me, personally, sitting in this seat today, I just know I want to be in a place where I’m celebrated, and not just tolerated, or just, you know, kind of dealt with in a way that doesn’t make me feel respected,” he noted.
Irving joined the Nets as a free agent in 2019 after a two-year stint with the Boston Celtics. He won a championship alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
