The Brooklyn Nets thought they had pulled off a coup by signing NBA champions Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant this past summer.
Both had been targeted by the Knicks in the Big Apple, and surprised some by joining Brooklyn.
Things have not turned out this way. While the Nets’ brass knew Durant would likely miss the 2019-20 season with a torn Achilles, the Irving experiment has failed at every turn.
Here’s the deal: Irving has missed each of the past 13 games with a shoulder injury.
- There’s concern that the injury could be more serious than what the Nets are letting on. The NBA champion is not close to returning to the team.
- Injuries have been somewhat of an issue for the enigmatic Irving over the past few seasons.
- In fact, the former No. 1 pick has missed nearly 80 games over the past four seasons. That’s an issue some teams had in free agency when determining whether to offer him a max contract.
Irving’s personality: Much like what we saw in Cleveland and Boston, the star guard has apparently created drama in Brooklyn.
- It was noted back in late October that Irving’s “mood swings” are making the Nets a bit “queasy.”
- Said report indicated the “when Irving lapses into these funks, he often shuts down, unwilling to communicate with the coaching staff, front office and sometimes, even his teammates.”
- Irving’s personality didn’t change once he demanded a trade from LeBron James’ Cavaliers team to the Celtics. It has not changed thus far in the Big Apple.
- This comes after an emotional message Irving had for his hometown fans ahead of his debut in Brooklyn back in October.
It’s not everyone else: At some point, we have to come to the conclusion that Irving is indeed the problem.
- It’s the old adage that if you’re seen as something by the masses it might not be the masses who are at fault.
- Irving’s attitude towards James and the city of Cleveland after requesting a trade magnified this.
- It has not gotten much better as it relates to how Irving views Boston, the Celtics’ brass and their fans.
