Irving: Felt ‘very disrespected’ at times with Nets
After his first practice with the Dallas Mavericks, All-star guard Kyrie Irving said he felt “really wanted” by his new team, a stark contrast to feeling “very disrespected” at times during his turbulent 3½-season tenure with the Brooklyn Nets.
“I just know I want to be places where I’m celebrated and not just tolerated or just kind of dealt with in a way that doesn’t make me feel respected,” Irving said after Tuesday’s practice at USC’S Galen Hall. “There were times throughout this process when I was in Brooklyn where I felt very disrespected and my talent -- I work 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 and just continue preparing in the gym, and now that I’m in Dallas, just focus on what I control.”
The Nets granted Irving’s request to be traded by agreeing to a deal on Sunday that sent him to the Mavericks along with forward Markieff Morris in exchange for guard Spencer Dinwiddie, forward Dorian Finneysmith, an unprotected 2029 firstround pick and two second-rounders.
Rodgers to decide future during darkness retreat
Aaron Rodgers hopes the darkness will help him see the light about his future.
The Green Bay Packers’ quarterback said Tuesday on “The Pat Mcafee Show” that he will embark on a four-day/four-night “darkness retreat” soon after the Super Bowl on Sunday.
“I’ve got a pretty cool opportunity to do a little self-reflection in some isolation,” Rodgers said. “And then after that I feel like I’ll be a lot closer to a final, final decision.”
Rodgers, 39, said he has not decided if he will play in 2023, whether that’s with the Packers or another team, amid reports that he could be traded.
“For sure; it’s a real thing, 100 percent,” Rodgers said of retirement. “That’s why it’s going to be important to get through this week and to take my isolation retreat and just to be able to contemplate all things my future and then be able to make a decision that I think is best for me moving forward and in the highest interest of my happiness and then move forward.”