Kyrie Irving’s arrival in Brooklyn energized a Nets fanbase continuously reminded that they had been the “little sibling” by way of basketball relevancy in New York Metropolis. The tandem of Kevin Durant and Irving made the Nets championship contenders. Nonetheless, that window slammed shut after the star guard was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
Right here’s a have a look at a chaotic timeline that portrays the rollercoaster of occasions that surrounded Irving:
Aug. 30, 2017: The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to ship Irving to the Boston Celtics in change for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and draft compensation. The deal made Irving the star of the Celtics roster, away from being possibility No. 2 taking part in alongside LeBron James in Cleveland.
Oct. 4, 2018: Within the last yr of a five-year deal, Irving instructed season-ticket holders at TD Backyard “When you guys can have me again, I plan on re-signing right here subsequent yr.” His promise was met with electrifying applause.
Feb. 1, 2019: Months after sharing his plans to re-sign with the Celtics, Irving seemingly modified his thoughts when requested about his impending free company. “On the finish of the day I’m going to do what’s finest for me and my profession,” Irving instructed reporters. “I don’t owe anyone s—t.”
Feb. 18, 2019: A video of Irving and Durant talking with one another throughout All-Star weekend went viral, sparking rumors the All-Stars would crew up sooner or later.
Could 8, 2019: The Milwaukee Bucks eradicated the Celtics within the Jap Convention semifinals. Irving’s poor efficiency within the series-clinching Recreation 5 — 15 factors on 6-of-21 capturing from the sector — was the final reminiscence followers have of the guard in a Celtics jersey.
June 30, 2019: The Nets had been thought of clear winners of the 2019 free company after signing Irving, Durant and DeAndre Jordan. The crew was thrusted into championship conversations and anticipated to ship after Durant’s return — he missed the whole thing of the 2019-20 season after struggling an Achilles damage in Recreation 5 of the earlier season’s NBA Finals as a member of the Golden State Warriors.
March 7, 2020: Head coach Kenny Atkinson was fired. Atkinson was relieved of his duties regardless of being on monitor to steer a star-less roster — with out Irving and Durant on account of damage — to a postseason look. The duo denied rumors claiming they had been accountable for Atkinson’s departure. Jacque Vaughn took over as interim head coach.
Sept. 30, 2020: Nets employed Steve Nash as head coach. Nash was employed to steer a crew with championship aspirations regardless of having no head teaching expertise, however his relationships with the 2 Brooklyn stars was seen as a constructive issue.
Oct. 1, 2020: Irving dismissed the concept of needing a head coach on Durant’s podcast saying “I don’t actually see us having a head coach.” He continued saying “KD might be a head coach, I might be a head coach… We don’t want somebody to return in with their teaching philosophy and alter every thing we’re doing.”
Dec 18, 2020: Irving made his first return to TD Backyard inside an empty area on account of COVID-19 protocols. Earlier than the preseason matchup, Irving burned sage inside the world to “cleanse the vitality.”
Jan. 7, 2021: Irving was dominated out of a house win towards the Philadelphia 76ers on account of “private causes.” The guard went on to overlook a number of subsequent video games and a video surfaced on-line of him attending his sister’s party. Days later, Irving amassed over $800k in fines for forfeiting recreation checks and violating the league’s coronavirus guidelines.
Jan. 13, 2021: The Nets acquired James Harden in a four-team blockbuster deal. The crew shaped their superteam after parting with younger stars Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and draft compensation.
Could 28, 2021: As a Web, Irving performed his first recreation in entrance of followers in TD Backyard. The guard shot 6-for-17 within the Nets’ first spherical Recreation 3 loss whereas being showered with boos. In Recreation 4, the All-Star stomped on the Celtics’ brand at half-court and was virtually struck by a water bottle thrown by a fan.
June 19, 2021: Yr 1 of the Nets’ trio tragically got here to an finish after the Bucks gained Recreation 7 of the Jap Convention semifinals. Irving’s sprained ankle and Harden’s nagging hamstring damage left the crew relying on Durant, who appeared to hit the series-clinching buzzer-beater on the finish of regulation however was overturned after officers decided his foot was on the three-point line.
Oct. 12, 2021: The Nets introduced Irving wouldn’t follow or play in any video games because of the guard’s unwillingness to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine — rendering him ineligible to take part underneath New York Metropolis’s vaccine mandate on the time. Weeks later, Mayor Eric Adams mentioned he wouldn’t change the mandate for Irving.
Dec. 12 2021: Nets introduced in a press release that Irving would return to the crew as a part-time participant completely for highway video games.
Feb. 10, 2022: The James Harden period got here to an finish after the Nets agreed to ship the disgruntled guard to the Philadelphia 76ers in change for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two future first-round picks. Durant’s damage standing and Irving’s fixed absences led to Harden’s commerce request. The 2018 MVP later mentioned in an interview “issues weren’t what I anticipated…”
April 25, 2022: The Celtics despatched the Nets house after struggling an embarrassing sequence sweep within the first spherical of the 2022 playoffs.
Could 16, 2022: Weeks after Irving dedicated to the franchise, common supervisor Sean Marks was reluctant on handing the All-Star a long-term extension. “We want folks right here that need to be right here, which are selfless, that need to be a part of one thing larger than themselves,” Marks mentioned.
June 27, 2022: Irving’s camp requested and obtained permission to hunt sign-and-trade packages. Irving additionally opted into the ultimate yr of his contract price $36.5M. The Every day Information confirmed that the Los Angeles Lakers had been the guard’s desired vacation spot
June 30, 2022: Durant requested a commerce from the Nets with the Information confirming the Phoenix Suns because the ahead’s desired vacation spot. The Nets regarded to recoup an All-Star caliber participant and a big haul of draft compensation. After weeks of failed negotiations and conferences with crew proprietor Joe Tsai, Durant rescinded his commerce request on Aug. 23.
Oct. 27, 2022: Irving posted a hyperlink to the film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” on his social media channels. The 30-year-old initially refused to take away the put up selling the antisemitic movie and didn’t instantly apologize.
Oct. 31, 2022: In response to Irving’s put up, a bunch of followers protested courtside throughout the Nets 116-109 win towards the Indiana Pacers sporting “Battle Antisemitism” shirts. Two days prior, Tsai condemned the guard for the controversial tweet.
Nov. 2, 2022: Nash was fired after a 2-5 begin to the season. Vaughn was named the coach for the rest of the season, however not earlier than the group created a media firestorm by making an attempt to rent Ime Udoka, who was suspended by the Celtics for violating a number of crew insurance policies.
Nov. 3, 2022: Irving was suspended at the least 5 video games by the Nets after the crew deemed him “presently unfit” to be related to the franchise. The All-Star additionally posted an apology on Instagram. Irving and the Nets promised to donate $500,000 every in direction of causes and organizations working to eradicate hate and intolerance.
Nov. 4, 2022: World sneaker firm Nike suspended their relationship with Irving and canceled the discharge of the Kyrie 8, the guard’s subsequent signature shoe. The sneaker large utterly reduce ties with the athlete in December.
Feb. 3, 2023: Irving requested a commerce from the Nets after each events failed to succeed in an settlement on a fully-guaranteed max contract extension.
Feb. 5, 2023: The Kyrie Irving period in Brooklyn got here to an finish. The Nets traded the All-Star to the Mavericks for former Brooklyn level guard Spencer Dinwiddie, three-and-D ahead Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round decide and a pair of second-round picks. Veteran ahead Markieff Morris was additionally despatched to Dallas within the deal.
Irving performed simply 143 of a potential 288 regular-season video games since signing in Brooklyn in 2019. He averaged 27.1 factors, 5.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds as a Web.
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