Kyrie Irving says he felt “VERY RESPECTED” with the Brooklyn Nets at times
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Kyrie Irving says he’s felt ‘very disrespected at times’ with the Brooklyn Nets, slamming the lack of discussion about ‘his work ethic’… insisting he ‘wants to change the narrative’ at Dallas as he gets to work with new team
Kyrie Irving has admitted he felt “very disrespectful” during the stages of his career with the Brooklyn Nets.
During his introductory press conference with the Mavs, Irving revealed he felt “really wanted” by Dallas, who earned eight all-star honors in a trade on Monday.
The Mavs handed out Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and a 2029 first-round pick for the NBA champion.
Irving has endured multiple controversies with the Brooklyn franchise, including the anti-Semitic saga after posting a link to a controversial Amazon documentary, and missing multiple games after refusing the COVID vaccine.
“I just don’t want to be placed where I’m celebrated, and not just tolerated or, you know, treated in a way that doesn’t make me feel respected,” Irving said.
Kyrie Irving suffered multiple controversies during his four seasons with the Brooklyn Nets
“There were times throughout this process when I was in Brooklyn where I felt very disrespected.
“Nobody ever talks about my work ethic. Everyone talks about what I do on the floor. I just want to change that narrative.
When asked what the Nets had done specifically to disrespect him, Irving chose to defer his comments until a later date.
“I think it’s another day where I can really go into detail about it,” he said.
“I think it’s another day where I can’t really go into detail about it. I’m not the person to really talk names and go behind someone’s back and try to leak stuff to the media, that was never me.
“I’ve been a member of the public watching people say things about me that eventually fall off my shoulder.
“I just know I need healthy boundaries, especially in this entertainment business there’s a lot of disrespect for people’s families, with their names and I just don’t agree.
“So it’s not personal against these front office guys, it’s just what I’m willing to accept.”
Kyrie Irving got his first reps as a Dallas player on Monday as the Mavs trained at USC
“I took a chance and luckily the Dallas Mavericks got me back.”
By leaving the Nets, Irving nearly destroyed all championship hopes for the Nets, leaving superstar Kevin Durant – who is unlikely to be traded – to push deep into the playoffs without another superstar by his side.
‘It just didn’t work out. We still remain brothers,” Irving said. “But it’s a business at the end of the day.
“At the end of the day, I want to be at peace every time I arrive at work, rather than having things in front of my head, or wondering what people in the building think of me or if a report is going to come out tomorrow that I am not talking to my teammates, which is not true.
“I just felt like I was in New York, the media capital of the world, there was so much leaked, I didn’t even know where it came from, and I’m responding to things I don”t deserve.
“I’m just grateful that I was able to move on and now I’m here.”