Kyrie Irving Reacts To Former Teammate Kevin Durant’s Trade From Brooklyn Nets To Phoenix Suns: I’m Just Glad He Got Out Of There

February 9, 2023 by Tsai-Ann Hill in Sports with 0 Comments

Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving Reacts To Former Teammate Kevin Durant’s Trade From Brooklyn Nets To Phoenix Suns: I’m Just Glad He Got Out Of There

Kyrie Irving is happy his former teammate, Kevin Durant, got the opportunity to spread his wings as he did.

In his latest press interview, new Dallas Mavericks player Kyrie Irving — recently traded from the Brooklyn Nets — revealed that he is looking forward to playing against Kevin Durant, who was also granted a trade and will now suit up for the Phoenix Suns.

Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving, who played on the Brooklyn Nets alongside Kevin Durant since 2019, said:

“In competition as brothers, I’m just praying for his happiness and praying for his well being. We had a lot of conversations throughout the year of what our futures were going to look like. There was still a level of uncertainty.”

Irving, 30, continued:

“We just cared about seeing each other be places that we can thrive and, whether that be together or whether that be apart, there’s never been one moment where I felt like he’s been angry at me for the decisions I made or I been angry at him. We just try to understand each other a lot better and grow as human beings. Grow as brothers.”

Irving added:

“Business changes so quickly. He’s getting a little bit older, I’m getting a little bit older. I just love the competition now that we can be in the same conference and I welcome all of that. Get to see him a little more, probably get to play him against Phoenix a lot more and that’s what I’m looking forward to. Everything else in the in between, I’m just glad that he got out of there.”

Kyrie Irving reacts to the Kevin Durant trade to Phoenix: “I’m just glad he got out of there”

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— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 9, 2023

On Wednesday (Feb. 8) Kevin Durant, 34, made headlines after The Brooklyn Nets traded him, in a blockbuster deal, to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns will send Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, and more draft compensation to the Nets in exchange for the 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion and T.J. Warren. This will be Kevin Durant’s fourth franchise after playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly Seattle SuperSonics), Golden State Warriors, and Brooklyn Nets.

As previously reported, before Irving requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 3, he faced a brief suspension and backlash for sharing a link to the film “Hebrews To Negros: Wake Up Black America” with his four million Twitter followers. The film has been scrutinized as spewing several “Jewish stereotypes and antisemitic tropes.” The Lakers were reportedly one of many teams to pursue the 30-year-old before the Mavericks secured Irving.

Kyrie Irving

LeBron James previously expressed his frustrations with the Los Angeles Lakers after losing out in their trade bid for Irving. The historic all-time scoring NBA player said:

“I can’t sit here and say I’m not disappointed on not being able to land such a talent, but someone that I had great chemistry with and know I got great chemistry with on the floor that can help you win championships. In my mind, in my eyes. But my focus is shifted now. My focus is shifted back to where it should be and that’s this club now and what we have in the locker room.”

LeBron James, 38, added:

“It’s a quick pivot. It don’t take me long. I don’t get too excited about the possibilities of things that can be. I kind of envision myself on what it can, but I don’t invest it all the way into it until I know it’s happening. And when it does not happen, I’m back locked in on the job at hand.”