During an extensive Twitch livestream, Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving opened up about his time with the Brooklyn Nets, notably revealing insider information on the hiring of Steve Nash as the team‘s head coach. The revelations surprised many in the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA community, as Irving spoke openly about internal conflicts and shifts behind the scenes that impacted the franchise’s trajectory. This livestream occurred amid Irving’s offseason, as he engaged sincerely with fans while touching on sensitive NBA topics, including his relationship with Kevin Durant and the Nets’ struggles.
Throughout the livestream, Irving expressed his complicated feelings about Nash’s appointment.
“This is your mans. So, I got to support that this is your mans. Cool. You want him? Cool. You like Steve, I love Steve. Cool. As a younger brother, I’m like, okay, I don’t care. That’s fine. You want Steve to coach? That’s fine, but when you’re committed to the same goal and then a year changes things and then things going on behind the scenes, come on,”
Irving said on stream.
However, Irving’s candidness was cut short when his agent unexpectedly called him during the broadcast. His agent voiced concern that Irving was sharing too much about the hiring story, prompting a swift reaction from fans witnessing the moment. The interruption underscored the sensitive nature of Irving’s disclosures and the potential consequences of his openness. This incident sparked broad discussion across social media about the behind-the-scenes dealings during the Nash era with the Nets.
Background on Nash’s Brief Tenure and Team Changes
The Brooklyn Nets’ experiment with Steve Nash as head coach was short-lived, ending just seven games into the 2022–2023 NBA season during Irving’s third year leading the team. Nash and the organization parted ways due to differences over team direction, which coincided with Irving not being offered a max contract extension. Subsequently, Irving was traded, and Kevin Durant also moved prior to the trade deadline, dismantling the once-promising duo.
The strong expectations of a Nets dynasty fueled by Irving and Durant’s partnership ultimately failed to materialize. Despite the star power, the team managed to win only a single playoff series during that period. Irving’s revelations about the coaching changes and internal discord are likely to reignite conversations among Nets fans about what went wrong and why the highly touted roster fell short of championship success.
Kyrie Irving’s NBA Controversies and His Time with the Nets
Kyrie Irving’s tenure with the Brooklyn Nets was marked by notable controversies, particularly around the COVID-19 pandemic. He faced suspension after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, affecting both his NBA participation and standing with the team. Additionally, Irving drew criticism for sharing a contentious film link titled
Hebrews to Negroes Wake Up Black America
and for his reluctance to publicly denounce antisemitism, actions that further isolated him from the team and league policies.
In the livestream, Irving disclosed his attempts to exit the Nets amid these issues. He said,
“I’m like, okay, look, that’s fine, but just leave me the (expletive) 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 (expletive) Kyrie. I say that very aware of my position, but they weren’t just going to let me rock out.”
Despite the controversies, Irving delivered strong on-court performance when available, shooting 48.9% overall, 39.6% from three-point range, and an impressive 90.9% from the free-throw line while averaging 27.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. Now with the Dallas Mavericks, Irving appears to be enjoying a calmer phase of his career, staying away from public disputes.
Kyrie Comments on the Infamous Nets “7-11” Duo with Kevin Durant
Reflecting on his partnership with Kevin Durant during their Brooklyn Nets days, Irving described their synergy as unparalleled. He said on the livestream,
“I will say this, the 7/11 duo of me and KD will never be topped in terms of just being on the court with somebody that special. So, let me get that disclaimer out. Let me get that disclaimer. I’ve played with a lot of great players, but playing with KD — that was OD. One of the best of all-time.”
Despite their on-court talent, the pair’s tenure coincided with the Nets’ failure to win an NBA championship, an outcome that remains heavily discussed in the basketball world. Durant attributed the team’s disappointments to injuries among key players, while Irving has pointed to coaching decisions, particularly surrounding Nash’s hiring and the loss of key coaching staff members, as significant factors in the team’s downfall.
The Broader Impact of Irving’s Livestream Revelations
Kyrie Irving’s recent transparency on the Steve Nash coaching situation, combined with his candid reflections on the Nets era, is likely to reverberate throughout the NBA fanbase and media. His willingness to share behind-the-scenes details adds new dimensions to the narrative about what went wrong with a roster once considered championship-bound.
As Irving continues to build his legacy with the Dallas Mavericks, these revelations may also influence perceptions of the Nets’ management and their decisions during a critical period. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if these disclosures prompt further insights or responses from those involved.