Kyrie Irving is starting his first full season with the Dallas Mavericks, and it got off to a good start on Wednesday, as he contributed 22 points and six assists in the Mavs’ Wednesday win over the San Antonio Spurs, 126-119.
When he arrived in Dallas midway through last season, the Mavs failed to reach the play-in tournament, and they’re hoping to return to the playoffs and do some damage there this season.
Before he came to Dallas, Irving was with the Brooklyn Nets for several years, and he will face them on Friday.
Per Brad Townsend, Irving talked about whether he needs closure from his time in Brooklyn.
Kyrie Irving tomorrow is facing his former team, Brooklyn, for the first time since February’s trade to Dallas. I asked if he got, or needs, closure from that chapter of his career. pic.twitter.com/BrGEkOwHHk
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) October 26, 2023
The New Jersey native signed as a free agent with the Nets in 2019, and he teamed up there with Kevin Durant, leading many to think they had just put together the NBA’s newest superteam.
But with Irving and Durant, the Nets never made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, and midway through last season, both stars asked to be traded.
Irving has gained a reputation over the years as a malcontent who cannot be relied upon to be consistently committed to his team, based on a couple of incidents he was involved in while with the Nets.
In Dallas, he is essentially starting with a clean slate, and he has Luka Doncic, an MVP candidate, by his side.
The Mavs don’t have a lot of talent, especially on the defensive end, around Irving and Doncic, so perhaps incremental improvement will be counted as success for them.
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