Kyrie Irving spoke to the media on Tuesday for the first time since he was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks. Of course, the controversial NBA star had something to say about his time in Brooklyn, which included a lot of negative criticism of his words and choices.
Irving told reporters that he’s happy to be in a place where he feels wanted. He then said that he felt disrespected during his time in Brooklyn.
“I just know I want to be in a place where I’m celebrated and not just tolerated or dealt in a way where I don’t feel respected,” Irving said. “There were times throughout this process in Brooklyn where I felt very disrespected.”
Kyrie says he’s happy to be a place where he feels wanted. He says he felt tolerated and disrespected at times in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/bESsCwrrGz
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 7, 2023
Irving said that he’s looking forward to changing the narrative about him and getting to “write my own story.”
Asked to explain what the Nets organization did to disrespect him, Irving declined to answer and said he would provide details another time.
Irving was also asked why he deleted his apology on social media for sharing links to an antisemitic film, saying that he “deletes things all the time” and still stands for “who I am and why I apologized.” He also complained about the way the media covered him during that time.
Kyrie on whether he deleted his apology on his IG for originally posting a link to a documentary with anti-Semitic tropes on his Twitter account and saying he does still stand by his apology. pic.twitter.com/SnAm3NpC7o
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 7, 2023
Naturally, Irving’s comments and perceived lack of accountability for what happened in Brooklyn got the attention of the NBA world.
Kyrie back to speaking and talking like Kyrie again. Every quote in here is like Kyrie Mad Libs https://t.co/VnfEzsZ4iX
— Yaron Weitzman (@YaronWeitzman) February 7, 2023
Aaaaaaaand we're off…
— Timothy McGrath (@timmybicicleta) February 7, 2023
It's a document retention policy issue! https://t.co/0rZpW8wD5L
— Chris Towers is the Riley Greene Preservation Soc (@CTowersCBS) February 7, 2023
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 https://t.co/F74S7YDdLZ
— Adam Gold (@AGoldFan) February 7, 2023
The dude who deleted his apology to the Jewish community wants to talk about feeling disrespected huh https://t.co/C6nRtk0i5X
— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) February 7, 2023
I could never so much as pretend to understand this man and how his mind works. https://t.co/yUcNLZ7Uy5
— sarah kelly (@thesarahkelly) February 7, 2023
Something tells us that Kyrie still has plenty of “interesting” thoughts for us in the days ahead.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.