Kyrie Irving on Brooklyn Nets’ mindset amid revival: “No more excuses, no more distractions”
Kyrie Irving has outlined the Brooklyn Nets' mindset amid their sudden revival this season after a poor start. The Nets have won 11 of their last 14 games and are fourth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-12 record. Brooklyn has been one of the most troubled teams over the past year.
From James Harden getting traded, Irving getting suspended for his anti-vaccination stance last season and antisemitic remarks this season, to Kevin Durant asking for a trade in the offseason, the Nets have seen it all.
Irving has arguably been the biggest instigator in Brooklyn's off-court troubles. However, he seems to have put an end to it, as that's what his latest comments on the team's recent winning stretch suggest.
Here's what he said after the Nets' 112-100 road win over the Washington Wizards on Monday (via Erik Slater):
“Let’s just go win ballgames, that’s really what the attitude is… No more excuses, no more distractions, no more just throwing in these surprise injuries. We just want everybody to be healthy and everybody to have fun."
Kyrie Irving on Brooklyn's mindset amid recent success:
“Let’s just go win ballgames, that’s really what the attitude is… No more excuses, no more distractions, no more just throwing in these surprise injuries. We just want everybody to be healthy and everybody to have fun."
The Nets have never looked more connected as a team, and it's been crucial to their success over the past 14 games. Every player on the roster seems to have bought in on the collective goal of achieving postseason success, including Kyrie Irving, who has been regarded by many as a distraction.
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Kyrie Irving looks focused amid Brooklyn Nets' revival
Kyrie Irving faced a suspension for the second season in a row. Irving and the organization came to another disagreement over his promotion of an antisemitic film on Twitter. However, Irving underwent the necessary steps and apologized for his behavior, leading to his comeback.
Irving initially struggled to perform to his potential upon his return. The Nets also looked disconnected on both ends of the court. However, Irving has found his rhythm of late. Over his last eight games, he has averaged 25.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, shooting 48.4% from the field.
He looks engaged on the defensive end and has been a willing passer on the offense. The Brooklyn Nets have registered a 7-1 record during that stretch. It's safe to say that the Nets still have a good chance of winning at a high level if Irving can keep an eye on the ball and avoid creating any more off-court distractions.
Kyrie Irving will likely also revive his image around the league before hitting free agency next off-season. There are question marks over him securing a long-term deal because of his off-court activities. If Irving continues to thrive on the court and stays away from controversies, he could secure a max contract with the Nets or elsewhere.
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