The Brooklyn Nets had a hugely disappointing 2021-22 season, as they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics in a four-game sweep.
It was a season that was defined by flux, as Kyrie Irving missed a huge number of game due to his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine and Kevin Durant missed 27 games due to injury.
The positive thing for the Nets is that the core of their roster still has tons of potential, but there are still plenty of questions to be answered, and they start with Irving.
General manager Sean Marks made some comments about how whoever will be on the team next season will need to be fully committed.
It was clear that he was talking about Irving, as well as new addition Ben Simmons.
Some are saying that the Nets should break up their core and that Irving must go.
Would letting go of Irving actually be a good idea?
Irving Is The Game’s Biggest Enigma
Ever since he forced the Cleveland Cavaliers to trade him in 2017, Irving has been the NBA’s most peculiar personality.
It hasn’t just been limited to his philosophical views, such as his anti-vaccine sentiments or his comments that the Earth is flat.
His commitment to the Nets ever since he joined the team nearly three years ago has been in question at times.
Last season, he left the squad for seven games for no apparent reason, other than he simply didn’t feel like playing.
But later on, it appeared that Irving may have taken that time off due to his concern over social issues, at least according to journalist Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.
"From what I understand, Kyrie took a personal day"@scoopB joined The Putback to talk about Kyrie Irving's absence, the TNT tweet last month, and more: https://t.co/rFA3guYnuh pic.twitter.com/NX2ZTzWqSk
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) February 17, 2021
What made the absence even worse was that Irving was discovered partying at a club in New Jersey during that time.
Wobvestigation: the facts surrounding the leaked Kyrie Irving video pic.twitter.com/ZSH5MeshHx
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 12, 2021
It caused some in the media to question whether Irving was truly committed to being a basketball player.
It is certainly commendable that he is committed to social and political causes and to helping the less fortunate to help themselves, and he has certainly done some very generous things for others.
But the main thing must be kept the main thing, and for Irving, if he hasn’t already, he needs to decide if the main thing will be basketball or activism.
He Is A Huge Asset
The North Jersey native, when he’s committed, is an incredible basketball player, and he’s also arguably the NBA’s most dangerous player in crunch time.
His sublime ball-handling skills, playmaking skills, and ability to score efficiently at all three levels allow the Nets to beat anyone on any given night at the very least.
Irving has a player option for next season, the final on his contract, and he could turn it down and become a free agent this summer.
Either way, if he is willing to be fully committed to helping the Nets win the world championship, they must keep him in the fold, especially since they wouldn’t exactly be able to fully replace what he brings to the team.
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