Kyrie Irving he returned to the Brooklyn Nets after two weeks away from the team and addressed the press for the first time since taking leave.
Irving missed a total of seven games, including five for personal reasons and two for conditioning. He lost nearly $ 817,000 in salary while in quarantine for two games, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted. The NBA also fined Irving $ 50,000 for violating the league’s health and safety protocols after videos surfaced of him attending a family birthday party.
What made the Brooklyn star leave the team?
“We had a lot of family and personal things,” Irving said without revealing more details. “So I just want to leave that.”
While his response left more to be desired by reporters and the public, Irving addressed his absence privately with the Nets organization and his colleagues, according to the coach. Steve Nash.
“I think Ky works a lot mentally to put himself in a great position to perform,” Nash said. “I’m proud of him for the effort he puts in there.”
After training on Tuesday, Irving and Nash both called the return “exciting”. Six times All-Star was not included in the injury report for Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers and will return then.
Before his early return, Irving acknowledged a few personal struggles during his time away from the team and reached out for guidance.
“I’m honestly honest here,” Irving said. “It was very balanced, and now I asked for help, and now I just have so many mentors and so many people reaching out and taking things off my plate that were never mine.”
Following his media availability, Irving posted a expressed disappointment Around Irving’s absence, he said the organization would support its star player and they did, according to Irving.
“It was wonderful,” Irving said. “I had enough support to feel that they have their backs and that is all I can ask for, not only for my support, but also for my family. I’m a child from my hometown, so things are a little different when family and personal things happen and it’s up to me to manage as a man. I take full responsibility for my actions with the boys and I simply had a conversation with each of them and we continue. “
As Irving integrates into Brooklyn, he will do so with a new teammate, James Harden. So far, Harden and his former teammate Kevin Durant they bonded well together. The jury continues to find out if Irving and Harden can coexist on the field, as both players are used to being the main game players.
“It’s very interesting just to be able to play with great players who have just been here in the league for a while and have gone through ups and downs, peaks and valleys,” Irving said. “James is aligned with us in terms of experience. This addition to our locker room will be great for us. ”
Irving’s return is an opportunity to show that he can adapt his game as a scorer on the ball and dispel any questions about his commitment to his teammates and basketball outside the organization.
“The pretty interesting thing about taking a break from everything is that there are 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, what they are, or what I support, or even try to take my time, or even invite them to take their time, so it’s a two-way street. When things get overwhelming in life, you just have to take a step back and realize what is important. I like to play. It was never a question. I got hired when this wasn’t even a thing for me. I didn’t really care about the media. I didn’t really care about fandom. All I cared about was just the ethics of the game and being taught the basics. ”
Irving, who grew up rooted for the Nets in New Jersey, apologized to fans for his absence and stressed to fans his commitment to winning a title and improving the community.
“I started out as a fanatic,” Irving explained. “I started as a fan. I have been invested in this organization since I was a child. Now that I’m in this role as a player, there’s a pretty big difference. Fans there, I want to apologize too. My commitment has always been to bring something special to Brooklyn. It wasn’t just a championship. It was unity. It was equality. These are just bigger things than just the game itself. It took quite a while and a few valleys to return home, initially. So for me, I take it every day, being grateful. But for the casual or fanatical, it’s part of our culture. I returned. I’m glad I’m back. We have some great songs and we continue and I let my actions and my game speak for themselves, as I planned to do. I just needed a break. ”
Some have speculated some of the “break” Irving needed in connection with concerns about social and political justice.
“Everything that is happening in the world from a political and social point of view is hard to ignore,” Irving acknowledged. “I want to make changes every day. There are so many oppressed communities and so many things are happening that are bigger than a simple ball coming in the edge. ”
Throughout his career, Irving has given back to the community in a variety of ways, including buying a home for George Floyd’s family, committing $ 1.5 million in WNBA salaries to supplement the income of players who gave up the ball due to problems. coronavirus or for reasons of social justice. and donating the Sioux Rock Tribe Standing and over $ 300,000 and $ 250,000 meals to Feeding America.
“For me, it’s just the balance, to know that I can delegate my responsibilities off the field to people who are surrounded, who are fighting and fighting backstage and in front of the ranks,” Irving said. “I am not the only one fighting. I am grateful to be united with others. That’s all I’m trying to do. On the field, too. Play with a smile, leave something that seemed very dear to my heart with this game. Whatever my legacy after that as a person, that’s what I really care about. “
You can follow Michael Scotto on Twitter: @MikeAScotto