USA TODAY International Edition
Back with Nets, Kyrie Irving says he ‘ just needed a pause’
Star guard apologized for seven- game absence but offered no specific explanation.
Nets star guard Kyrie Irving apologized for his seven- game absence but otherwise offered no specific explanation for what he was out due to personal reasons.
“A lot of family and personal stuff going on so I just want to leave it at that,” Irving said in a Zoom call Tuesday with reporters.
Irving is expected to play Wednesday against the Cavaliers, his first game since Jan. 5, and it will also be the first time the Nets’ new Big 3 of Irving, Kevin Durant and newly acquired star James Harden play together.
“I am back, I am happy to be back, we got some great pieces and we move on, and I let my actions and my game speak for itself like I planned on doing,” Irving said. “I just needed a pause.”
He said he took accountability with his teammates for his absence and addressed the issue with everybody who needed to know.
Asked if was fine physically and mentally, he softly nodded yes. For much of the interview he sat in the front of the camera with his arms folded and his chin resting on his right wrist.
“There’s just so many assumptions about what’s going on and so many people feel they know me best,” Irving said. “They have no idea who I am. It’s a twoway street, and when things becoming overwhelming in life, you just got to take a step back and realize what’s impor
tant. I love to play. That’s never a question.”
While he was away from the team, a maskless Irving attended a private birthday party for his sister at a New Jersey establishment, which was a violation of the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Video of the celebration was posted on social media.
The NBA fined him $ 50,000, and Irving forfeited two games of salary worth $ 816,889. While coach Steve Nash declined to address the issue of Irving’s absence, preferring to keep the matter private, general manager Sean Marks
said the organization was disappointed Irving wasn’t with the team.
Irving acknowledged the Nets have supported him throughout.
When Irving was out, the Nets orchestrated a league- altering, four- team trade that sent Harden from Houston to Brooklyn, Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince from Brooklyn to Cleveland, Caris LeVert from Brooklyn to Indiana and Victor Oladipo from Indiana to Houston. The Rockets also acquired four firstround picks in the deal.
The Nets accelerated their championship push with the trade, and in
Harden’s first two games alongside Durant the team is 2- 0 and both players scored at least 30 points in each game. With Irving rejoining the team, Brooklyn has three impressive scorers who thrive with the basketball in their hands.
Irving said is “very excited just to have James here. … We’re just moving on to the next phase of developing as a team and building some camaraderie and having fun. … It’s exciting to be able to play with great players that have been here in the league for a while, been through ups and downs, peaks and valleys. James is aligned with us just in terms of experience. Adding that to our locker room is going to be great for us.”
On Tuesday, former NBA player Stephen Jackson revealed Irving purchased a home for the family of George Floyd, a 46- year- old Black man who was killed Memorial Day in Minneapolis while being arrested by police officers. Irving never said anything about it, and when asked about it, he called it selfless service.
“There’s a deeper level of emotions that I have for helping and serving people around the world,” Irving said. “I’ve done it since I was a kid and I’ll continue to do it way after basketball.”
He also said the political and social climates of the time are hard to ignore.
“I want to make changes daily,” he said. “There are so many oppressed communities, so many things go on that are bigger than just a ball going through a rim.”