Kyrie Irving reacts to Kevin Durant trade and breakup of Nets: ‘This was in the works after Year 1′

The nice celebrity experiment in Brooklyn is over.

And if you happen to hearken to Kyrie Irving the breakup of the Nets was within the works “after 12 months 1.”

James Harden was the primary to go. Then Irving (who was dealt to the Mavericks two days after asking for a commerce). And now the gorgeous in a single day commerce that may ship Kevin Durant to the Suns.

“I’m glad he acquired out of there,” Irving stated of Durant after making his debut with the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night time. “This was within the works after 12 months 1.”

Irving and Durant joined the Nets in June 2019 after which Harden joined the franchise in January 2021 with the expectation that the trio would create the NBA’s latest superteam and produce a championship — or championships — to Brooklyn.

The superteam by no means materialized because the Nets received only one playoff sequence.

“I used to be not sure about whether or not or not I wished to be in Brooklyn once more due to issues that had been taking place behind the scenes,” Irving stated after scoring 24 factors within the Mavs’ 110-104 win over the L.A. Clippers on Wednesday night time.

“I did my finest to place my head down and work as onerous as I might. There have been some unlucky circumstances that had been out of my management, whether or not it’s the mandate with the vaccine or lacking video games being suspended.

“Simply little issues that I believe put wrenches in our journey. And we had James and we had been alleged to be a brilliant crew. I want to say one thing concerning the tremendous crew of me James and KD that everybody thinks ought to have labored. We performed very restricted time collectively. There have been a whole lot of accidents and issues that happened, and I’d have appreciated to see that work in the long run however there aren’t any errors, no coincidences, and we’ve acquired to maneuver ahead.”

In the long run, Irving and Durant performed simply 88 video games collectively (54-34). And the Massive 3 performed simply 16 video games collectively earlier than Harden compelled his method out in February 2022 in a transfer that landed him in Philadelphia.

The bundle returning to the Nets within the reported Durant deal is Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and 4 first-round picks, in addition to extra second-round draft decide compensation as a part of the deal.

“I’m simply praying for his happiness and praying for his well-being,” Irving continued.

“We had a whole lot of conversations all year long about what our futures had been gonna appear to be. There was nonetheless a stage of uncertainty, however we simply cared about seeing one another be locations the place we will thrive, and whether or not that be collectively, whether or not that be aside, there’s by no means been one second the place I felt like he’s been offended at me for the choices I’ve made, or I’ve been offended at him.

“We simply tried to grasp one another loads higher and develop as human beings, develop as brothers.”

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