Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks’ star, doesn’t have time for Nets ‘what-if’ scenarios. On Saturday night, James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers upset Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks, tying their season series at 1-1. Irving, who played alongside Harden on the Brooklyn Nets a few years ago, was the second of the three superstars to want a trade away from the city. That transaction placed him with the Mavericks.
The Brooklyn Nets, a club with endless potential and an inch away from a possible NBA title, ended up trading all three of Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant once it became evident the trio would not be able to operate together for various reasons.
“We could spend hours here going over different ‘what-if’ situations,” Kyrie Irving expressed to the media following the loss to the Clippers. “From my perspective, even when James joined the Brooklyn team, I’ve always emphasized to my peers, teammates, and former colleagues that this is about more than just us being teammates in the present moment. Each individual has to prioritize what’s best for themselves.”
Kyrie Irving on time with Harden/KD on the Nets:
“It’s kind of like the girl that got away… Looking back, you got a great bad wife, kids & you’re like, ‘Tss.’ I don’t wanna second guess it, I don’t wanna get in trouble with my wife. I’m not thinking about nobody else, baby.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/T7efBxkHCq
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) November 26, 2023
The Nets boasted a remarkable 13-3 record when Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant were all on the court together. However, due to vaccine mandates and injuries, the Nets were deprived of fully showcasing their potential. Consequently, they remain a subject of speculation, often regarded as one of the NBA’s most significant ‘what-if’ teams in history.
“It’s unfortunate that James, KD, and I are part of NBA history as a ‘what-if’ scenario, characterized by the immense expectations of a super team,” continued the Mavs guard. “Despite some successful seasons, uncontrollable factors such as vaccine requirements in New York City and various circumstances affected our journey.”
Throughout their tenure, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant only managed to play a total of 783 minutes together, yielding an impressive +8.8 net rating across 16 games. In the 2021 postseason, they held a 5-1 record until James Harden’s recurring hamstring injury resurfaced, and Kyrie Irving suffered a severe ankle sprain, sidelining him for the remainder of the series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I don’t reflect on that period of my career with disappointment,” Irving reflected. “It’s more like a missed opportunity, akin to losing someone special. It’s a lingering feeling, even though you’ve moved on to a great life. I’m not dwelling on it or causing trouble in my current situation. But it does feel like a case of FOMO, missing out on something extraordinary.” Kyrie Irving requested a transfer out of Brooklyn after a string of problems including failing to comply with New York City’s vaccine mandate, sending a link on Twitter to a film containing racist themes, and failing to negotiate a new contract with the Nets. His trade to the Dallas Mavericks came after the Nets sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers and Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns approximately a week later.
“This [trade] was in the works since Year 1,” Kyrie Irving told reporters after being moved to the Mavericks last season. “I was unsure about whether I wanted to be in Brooklyn long-term again because of things that was happening behind the scenes.”
The Mavericks started the season 8-2, but have now lost four of their last six games. Aside from the losses, the Mavericks are still looking into Luka Doncic’s left thumb, which was damaged in the opening minute of Saturday night’s game against the Clippers.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have won four of their previous five games and are set to visit the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
