It didn’t drag. Less than two days after demanding his transfer for failing to obtain a maximum contract extension, Brooklyn granted the wish of Kyrie Irving, its all-star point guard, by trading him to Dallas for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and multiple draft picks. The Texas franchise, coached by Jason Kidd, recovers an NBA star to help Luka Doncic, stratospheric (33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 8.6 assists on average) but a little too alone in his team. Sixth in the West, the Mavs aim for the title.
Arrived in Brooklyn in the summer of 2019 at the same time as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving left the Nets with a very disappointing record. Sportingly, the 30-year-old leader, NBA champion in 2016 with Cleveland, has never been further than a conference semi-final in 2020-2021 (lost 4-3 against Milwaukee). He has only played 51% of Brooklyn’s regular season games in nearly 4 years (143 of 278). But his adventure in Brooklyn was above all marked by several extra-sporting controversies: a categorical refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19 which deprived him of a good part of the 2021-2022 season, then a suspension this season. after promoting an anti-Semitic film. “Your work here is done!” “, had quipped the New York Post on Saturday, listing the “accomplishments” of the leader and recalling that he had won only one series of playoffs with the Nets.
The departure of Irving leaves Kevin Durant as the only superstar of the New York suburban team, after having already lost James Harden in February 2022. The Nets, who had received Kylian Mbappé during his vacation with his teammate Achraf Hakimi on last month, occupy 4th place in the Eastern Conference while awaiting the return of “KD” (knee) from injury. A dynamic to continue, now without the new leader of Dallas.
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