The Brooklyn Nets ended a tumultuous era in their franchise’s history on the Sunday before the NBA Trade Deadline, dealing Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks. While Irving had some brilliant moments for the Nets, his overall tenure there was trying. Off the court, his tenure was defined by a constant flood of controversies. On the court, Brooklyn won just one playoff series during Irving’s tenure.
With all of that in mind, it’s unlikely that any Nets fans will look back on Irving’s time with the team with great fondness. That, however, didn’t stop the team from sending out a farewell message, thanking Irving for his time in Brooklyn.
Thank you, @KyrieIrving pic.twitter.com/jkdoFmzle8
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 10, 2023
Basketball fans were puzzled and bemused by the oddly timed thank-you message.
What are they thanking him for? Embarrassing https://t.co/ehg1v2RdDO
— Adam the Bull (@adamthebull) February 10, 2023
Its so obvious the Nets media team was forced to tweet this lol. No emojis no video no nothin https://t.co/aY4PHetIDX
— Jacob 🏀⭕️ (@SexIandCAVS) February 10, 2023
Nets social media manager: https://t.co/s2neMQiFKB pic.twitter.com/2XM9ekocI5
— Eric Mintzer (@MintSports) February 10, 2023
Lol cmon nets https://t.co/yCeWNFCYxh
— Matt Monagan (@MattMonagan) February 10, 2023
This thank you post is giving fake love https://t.co/fGEUx5xL4o
— Trysta Krick🐺 (@Trysta_Krick) February 10, 2023
Why are they thanking this Anti-Semitic fool for? Smfh https://t.co/NknlwNArJy
— MAADY (@MaadyBK67) February 10, 2023
They tweeted Durant's thank you a day after he was traded. For Kyrie, nothing until now lol https://t.co/SwqKzRNSdu
— CelticsForum (@CelticsForum0) February 10, 2023
Indeed, this is a stark contrast to what the Nets did with Kevin Durant after his trade.
First, the “Thank you” message to Durant was up roughly a full day before the one to Irving, even though Irving was traded three days before. Durant’s message also had a corresponding video tribute in a follow-up tweet.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 9, 2023
Irving also wasted no time badmouthing the Nets in the days after he was traded. Time may eventually heal these wounds, giving Irving and Brooklyn a relationship more common between teams and their former players. But for now, there’s certainly no love lost.
[Brooklyn Nets on Twitter]
