‘It was the best decision of my career to ask for a trade’

With his move to the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving seems to have finally found the peace of mind that eluded him during his time in Brooklyn.

Kyrie Irving’s refusal to get the COVID vaccine and New York City’s vaccine mandate undermined the Brooklyn Nets’ championship dreams of creating a superteam with Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.

Harden initiated the trade request due to his frustrations with Irving, and Irving soon followed suit. As Irving prepares to face the Nets for the first time since his departure, he reflects on his decision without any regrets, as he shared with Brian Lewis and Dan Martin of the New York Post.

“It was the best decision of my career to ask for a trade,” Irving confidently expressed. “I knew I needed peace of mind.”

Irving also dispels the notion that there were significant issues between him and the Nets.

“I was never on bad terms with the organization,” Irving stated after the Mavericks’ practice on Thursday. “There was just a lot of chaos and noise generated by the media. I don’t blame you guys or anything, but nobody really knew what was going on behind the scenes.”

While COVID played a role, Irving’s absence from the court extended beyond the pandemic. After the Jan. 6 insurrection, Irving took a leave of absence for personal reasons. He was suspended by the Nets last season for promoting an anti-Semitic movie on social media. These incidents, coupled with the Nets’ unwillingness to offer him a long-term contract extension, ultimately led to the breakup.

By the end, both Irving and the Nets were ready to part ways, knowing that Kevin Durant would soon follow suit, leading to a rebuilding phase for the team.

Since joining the Dallas Mavericks, Irving has preferred to keep his personal life out of the spotlight, focusing on learning how to win alongside Luka Doncic. As for the Nets, they find themselves in the early stages of a rebuild, with an intriguing roster but still far from their potential.

It will be intriguing to see how Brooklyn fans receive Irving upon his return. Despite the distance from championship contention, Irving believed his decision was in his best interest and values the peace of mind he has gained.