Kyrie Irving has finally spoken out regarding the long-standing friction within the Brooklyn Nets organization, specifically criticizing Kevin Durant‘s role in hiring Steve Nash as head coach. The comments come nearly two and a half years after the dissolution of the Nets’ “Big Three” era, a period marked by off-court drama and spectacular struggles, which overshadowed the team’s on-court performances. Irving’s remarks shed new light on the conflicted relationships and decisions that shaped the Nets from 2020 to 2023.
Background of the Brooklyn Nets’ Post-“Big Three” Strategy
In an internal docu-series focused on the 2025 NBA Draft, Brooklyn Nets’ assistant GM B.J. Johnson discussed the team‘s future direction, emphasizing stability and character as priorities. Johnson highlighted that no matter who joins the team staff or players, they must adapt to the organization’s established culture, signaling a pivot from the instability that marked the era dominated by James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant.
The Nets’ management, including GM Sean Marks, made it clear that player character and competitive spirit would be critical for rebuilding. Marks, reflecting on the team’s recent draft selections, described the chosen players using terms like “hard worker,” “class act,” and “great young man.” This focus reflects an explicit effort to learn from past mistakes linked to the personalities and controversies of the former star trio.
The Lasting Impact of the Big Three Era on Team Decisions
The departure of Durant, Harden, and Irving left the Nets at a crossroads, struggling with the fallout of their on- and off-court issues. Although these three players are no longer part of Brooklyn, the influence of their complicated tenure remains present in organizational decisions and public statements. Notably, Joe Tsai, Sean Marks, and assistant GM B.J. Johnson continue to lead the franchise through this transitional phase.
Public disputes among the Big Three members over the reasons behind the team‘s collapse have also kept the era in public view. Recently, Kevin Durant and head coach Steve Nash had conversations suggesting that Irving and Harden had not demonstrated enough commitment to the team’s goals, which Irving responded to in his own detailed explanation.
Irving’s Criticism of Durant and the Steve Nash Coaching Hire
On a Twitch stream, Irving directly blamed Kevin Durant for pushing to hire Steve Nash as head coach, a decision Irving views as part of the Nets’ troubles. Irving said,
“Steve wasn’t even in the play-in yet,”
and suggested Durant exerted disproportionate influence on the organization’s choice by stating,
“But this is your man’s. This is your man. So I got to support that. This is your man’s. Cool. You want him? Cool. You like Steve? I love Steve. You know what I’m saying? Cool. As a younger brother, I’m like, okay. I don’t care. That’s fine. You want Steve to coach. That’s fine.”
However, this account does not fully align with facts known within the organization. Steve Nash’s hiring was primarily driven by Sean Marks, who had a longstanding friendship with Nash and sought to bring him on board despite Nash’s lack of head coaching experience. Marks pursued Nash after firing Kenny Atkinson, whose tenure ended reportedly due to difficulties managing star personalities.
Durant, having previously worked with Nash during Nash’s consulting role with the Warriors, agreed with the hire but was not the primary decision-maker. Irving’s involvement in the hiring process was minimal, with some reports indicating Durant simply informed Irving that Nash would be the coach. This dynamic reinforced Irving’s narrative that Durant was prioritized more highly by the team’s leadership.
Irving Reflects on His Role and Business Decisions with the Nets
Irving admitted in his stream that he did not engage directly with the Nets’ front office during his signing, which he now regrets. He stated,
“(I didn’t meet) the Nets front office one time. I didn’t meet with the GM one time, the assistant GM one time, literally,”
adding,
“When I look back at that decision, I’m like, man, I should’ve taken some more time to delegate and figure out what’s best for me.”
He acknowledged that despite being the “junior partner” compared to Durant, the lack of dialogue with team executives limited his influence on major decisions, including the crucial coaching hire. Irving reflected,
“I wish I would’ve handled the business better and got a chance to know them first, ask them questions, ‘hey, what’s the future like?’ Instead of just committing blindly and thinking that ‘hey, we’re about to come in here and just do X, Y, and Z.’ I didn’t have much power going in there. I couldn’t say who we could get and who we could not get. I couldn’t hire the coach. You guys knew my opinion on the head coach at the time.”
Vaccination Dispute and Its Effects on Irving’s Status with the Nets
Irving touched briefly on his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which contributed to his complicated relationship with the Nets. He revealed that after refusing the shot, he asked the organization to release him, but his request was denied. He criticized the situation, saying,
“Even the people that I was in business with were pro-vaccine,”
and further added,
“I’m like, OK, look, that’s fine, but just leave me the f–k out of this and let me go somewhere. I even told the Nets to release me. I said, ‘yo, can you please just release me?’ And, obviously, the money situation — different situation, I’m f–king Kyrie. I say that very aware of my position, but they weren’t just going to let me rock out.”
Reflecting on Commitment Disputes Between Irving and Durant
Irving seemed hurt by Durant’s recent public comments questioning the commitment of Irving and Harden to the Nets. He expressed emotional frustration, saying,
“When (Durant) said this, emotionally, I was like, ‘OK.’ We’re all committed to the goal at the end of the day, but sometimes not everybody’s going to follow what you want them to do,”
and,
“Not everybody’s going to be committed the way you want them to be committed.”
The breakdown of the relationship between Durant and Irving is clear, as they show no signs of reconciliation. Their interactions on the court have been marked by distance and lack of camaraderie following the breakup of the Brooklyn partnership.
Additional Tensions and Departures Highlight the End of an Era
Other internal conflicts contributed to the Nets’ collapse, including frustration over James Harden’s reportedly poor conditioning and focus on lifestyle over training, as well as disagreements over personnel moves. Durant reportedly disapproved of the trade sending Harden away for Ben Simmons, and expressed dissatisfaction with Nash’s coaching while favoring Ime Udoka for the role.
Irving’s frequent controversies were seen as disruptive by executives, further complicating the team’s environment. Despite the drama, these episodes are historical points of reference that influence the team’s current path.
Brooklyn’s Shift Toward Building Through Youth and Stability
Following the breakup of the “Big Three” and their combined 13-3 record in limited shared playing time, the Nets have focused on rebuilding using draft selections and developing young talent. The notable haul from the KD trade alone includes 11 first-round picks aimed at restoring Brooklyn’s competitiveness without relying on superstar signings.
The veterans from that era have since moved on: Durant and Harden are with new teams, while Irving reached the NBA Finals with Dallas last year before suffering a torn ACL. Meanwhile, the Nets’ core is now focused on younger prospects such as Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Noah Clowney, and Dariq White—all teenagers or early twenties—training at the HSS Training Center in Sunset Park. This turn towards youth development signals a new chapter for Brooklyn.
Looking Ahead: The Nets’ Future Beyond Past Conflicts
The Brooklyn Nets are now working to distance themselves from the tumultuous Big Three period, emphasizing solid character and team cohesion in future acquisitions. While the public quarrels among Irving, Durant, and their former peers remain part of the franchise’s history, the organization‘s priority is clearly on moving forward with stability and growth.
As Irving continues his recovery and Durant and Harden pursue careers elsewhere, the Nets’ focus remains on cultivating young talent and building a consistent team culture, aiming to avoid the mistakes that led to the past turmoil. This approach will play a key role in shaping the franchise’s direction and hopes for success in coming seasons.