The Dallas Mavericks were heavily trolled for over six months for staking Luka Doncic’s future with the team on a partnership with Kyrie Irving. With the team now in the Western Conference Finals, Doncic and Irving reflected on the trade, with both mocking ESPN for giving the trade a D in February 2023
Irving joined Dallas in a package that sent Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Brooklyn Nets along with one first-round pick and two second-round picks. That is a bargain in the modern trade market for a star player, but Irving’s possible free agency and the baggage he carries with him weighed his perception down in the eyes of the media. ESPN in particular was going out of their way to criticize Irving at that point, with analysts like Stephen A. Smith asking the guard to retire because of an apparent lack of focus in basketball. With the continued fall of the Nets, while the Mavs succeed with Kyrie, it’s becoming clear that Irving didn’t feel like he could trust the people in charge in Brooklyn.His excellence on the court has been facilitated by head coach Jason Kidd, one of Irving’s idols growing up. Mavericks’ GM Nico Harrison worked with Irving closely when he signed Kyrie to Nike many years ago. With a supportive roster that looks to Irving for mentorship, it’s clear his off-court happiness is translating into on-court success.
Leave a Reply