Kyrie Irving (2)
Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023)
2019–2020: Debut and injury
On July 7, 2019, Irving signed with the Brooklyn Nets in free agency.[125] On October 23, 2019, Irving debuted for the Nets with 50 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in a 127–126 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 50 points or more in a team debut.[126] Irving became the seventh player in franchise history to score 50 points or more in a single game, and joins Stephon Marbury (2001) as the only one to also record 15 combined rebounds and assists.[127][128] He also scored 25 of the Nets' 56 points in the first half.[129]
Irving missed 26 games due to a right shoulder injury, and returned on January 12, 2020, scoring 21 points on a 10-of-11 shooting in the 108–86 win over the Atlanta Hawks.[130][131] On January 25, Irving scored 45 points, also recording six rebounds and seven assists, to lead Brooklyn to a 121–111 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons.[132] The next day, the Nets were scheduled to play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, however Irving left the arena prior to tip-off, upon learning of the death of Kobe Bryant.[133] On January 31, Irving scored a season-high 54 points on 19-of-23 shooting in a 133–118 win over the Chicago Bulls.[134] On February 20, it was announced that Irving would undergo season-ending surgery on his injured shoulder.[135][136]
2020–2021: 50–40–90 season
In the Nets' season opener on December 22, Irving had 25 points, four assists, and four rebounds in a 125–99 win over the Golden State Warriors.[137] On December 25, Irving had 37 points and eight assists in a 123–95 win over his former team, the Boston Celtics.[138] On February 18, 2021, Irving was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, his seventh selection.[139] On May 6, Irving had a season-high 45 points in a 113–109 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.[140] With the conclusion of the regular season, Irving became the ninth player in NBA history to join the 50–40–90 club, representing the shooting percentages from the field (.506), the three-point line (.402), and the free throw line (.922). Irving also became only the fourth player to average over 25.0 points, while making the 50–40–90 club, the others being Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Larry Bird.[141]
Irving sprained his right ankle after landing on Giannis Antetokounmpo's foot during Game 4 of the Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, and missed Game 5.[142] The Nets lost the series in seven games.
On October 12, 2021, the Nets' general manager Sean Marks announced that Irving would be ineligible to play or practice with the team, due to the New York City COVID-19 vaccine mandate, until Irving is vaccinated.[144][145] Despite remaining unvaccinated, on December 17, following a large number of players lost to injuries and health and safety protocols, as well as an inordinate minutes load on Kevin Durant and James Harden, the Nets announced that Irving would return to the team as a part-time player for games outside of the New York area and Toronto.[146] On January 5, 2022, Irving made his season debut, recording 22 points, three rebounds and four assists, on 9-of-17 shooting in 31 minutes in a 129–121 victory over the Indiana Pacers.[147]
On February 26, Irving scored a then season-high 38 points with five rebounds, five assists and two steals in a 126–123 win over the reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks.[148] In February 2022, New York City mayor Eric Adams announced that the city would be lifting its vaccine requirement for indoor activities on March 7.[149] However, Irving remained subject to a different workplace vaccine mandate that remained in place.[150] In a public statement, Adams said that making a specific exemption for Irving would "send the wrong message" to other people employed in the city.[151]
On March 8, Irving scored a then season-high 50 points on 15-of-19 shooting from the field and delivered six assists in a 132–121 win over the Charlotte Hornets. He became only the second guard in NBA history (after Michael Jordan) who would have multiple 50-point games while shooting 75 percent from the floor.[152] On March 15, Irving scored 41 of his career-high and Nets franchise-record 60 points in the first half, grabbed six rebounds, delivered four assists along with four steals on 20-of-31 shooting from the field, including eight three-pointers, in a 150–108 win against the Orlando Magic.[153] On March 23, Mayor Adams announced that the city would be relaxing its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, allowing Irving to play at the Barclays Center.[154] On March 27, Irving made his home debut against the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 16 points in 41 minutes, in a 119–110 loss.
On April 12, Irving, in his first play-in appearance, scored 34 points and dished out 12 assists in a 115–108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers to secure the 7th spot for the playoffs.[156] In Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs, Irving scored a game-high 39 points along with five rebounds, six assists, and 4 steals in an 115–114 loss against the Boston Celtics.[157] Irving was fined $50,000 on April 19 for middle finger gestures and profane language to fans in Boston during Game 1 on April 17.[158] Brooklyn would go on to lose to Boston in four games, and Irving was swept for the first time in his career.[159]
2022–2023: Trade request
Following the end of the 2021–2022 season, there was speculation that Irving would decline his player option and pursue a sign-and-trade deal with another team.[160] Irving ultimately opted into his $37 million player option, returning to the Nets for the 2022–23 NBA season.[161] On November 3, 2022, the Nets suspended Irving for at least five NBA games due to his failure to "unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs" and said that he is "currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets."[162] On December 16, Irving scored 32 points and put up a game-winning three-pointer in a 119–116 win over the Toronto Raptors.[163] The next game, Irving scored 38 points, helping the Brooklyn Nets overcome a 17-point halftime deficit in a 124–121 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
On January 20, 2023, Irving scored a season-high 48 points, including a season-high eight 3-pointers, along with 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals in an 117–106 win over the Utah Jazz.[165] The next game, Irving recorded 38 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in a 120–116 win over the reigning champions Golden State Warriors.[166] On January 26, Irving was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, his eighth selection and sixth as a starter.[167] On February 4, it was reported that Irving had requested a trade; the request was made after talks about a new contract with the Nets did not go to his liking.
Dallas Mavericks (2023–present)
The Nets traded Irving, along with Markieff Morris, to the Dallas Mavericks on February 6, 2023, in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and second-round picks in 2027 and 2029.[169] On February 8, Irving made his Mavs debut, putting up 24 points, five rebounds and four assists in a 110–104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.[170] On March 2, Irving scored 40 points on 15-of-22 shooting from the field, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc in a 133–126 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. In the same game his teammate Luka Dončić scored 42 points and it was the first time in Dallas franchise history that two players scored 40 points in the same game.[171][172] He was re-signed to a three-year contract on July 7, 2023.[173]
On January 11, 2024, Irving scored 44 points and delivered 10 assists in a 128–124 win over the New York Knicks.[174] On March 17, Irving put up 24 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, and a game-winning floater in a 107–105 win over the Denver Nuggets.[175][176] On April 7, Irving scored a season-high 48 points in a 147–136 overtime win over the Houston Rockets.
National team career
In 2012, Irving was in contention for a position on the Australian team for the 2012 Olympics. However, he elected not to represent his nation of birth, instead focusing on selection for the United States national team for the 2016 Olympic Games.[178]
Irving was a member of the United States national team that competed in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He helped lead Team USA to the gold medal and was subsequently named the tournament's MVP. He started all nine games in the tournament, averaging 12.1 points and 3.6 assists per game, including 26 points scored in the gold-medal game. He was then named the 2014 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.[179]
In 2016, Irving helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. With the win, he became just the fourth member of Team USA to capture the NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year, joining LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen.
Acting roles
In 2012, Irving played the role of Uncle Drew in a series of Pepsi Max advertisements.[181][182] He wrote and directed episode 2, in which he starred alongside Bill Russell and Kevin Love, and episode 3, in which he starred alongside Nate Robinson and Maya Moore.[183] Irving also wrote and directed episode 4 of "Uncle Drew", which was released in November 2015, and in which he starred in alongside Baron Davis, J. B. Smoove, and Ray Allen.[184] In 2017, the Uncle Drew advertisement series became a skit inside an old school diner featuring Pepsi in its current design, stored in a fridge with its original logo.[185] Irving has also starred as the character in a feature film, Uncle Drew, which also features former NBA stars, and was released in June 2018.[186]
Irving appeared on an episode of the Disney XD series Kickin' It in 2012,[187] and guest starred on Family Guy, lending his voice for the season 17 (2018) episode "Big Trouble in Little Quahog"
Business ventures
Irving's shoe deal with Nike is worth US$11 million, as of 2019.[189] His signature sneakers were the second best-selling line of 2017, behind LeBron James'. The NPD Group no longer tracks signature sneakers but projected that the trend continued into 2018. Irving's themed sneaker collaborations include that of the television shows Friends and SpongeBob SquarePants.[190] The latter collection sold out immediately.[191]
In September 2023, Irving announced a new partnership with Chinese sports brand Anta Sports. A namesake sneaker was announced for the 2023-2024 NBA season alongside a business collaboration that saw Irving join the company as Chief Creative Officer of Anta Basketball. They will also launch a series of Anta x Kyrie Youth Basketball Camps around the world.[192]
In December 2023, Irving made an investment in sneaker platform Kicks Crew and joined the company as Chief Community Officer. His role is expected to focus on cause-driven projects aimed at bringing communities together in collaborations that blend art and basketball and to extend globally.
Personal life
Irving enjoys reading and has a journal.[11] He also likes to sing, dance, and play the baritone sax. His godfather is former NBA player Rod Strickland.[22] His cousin, Isaiah Briscoe, is a professional basketball player who played at the University of Kentucky and played one season in the NBA for the Orlando Magic.[194] Irving and his ex-girlfriend have a daughter.[195]
In May 2011, Irving made a promise to his father to finish his bachelor's degree at Duke within five years.[196] However, in 2016, having not achieved his degree, he claimed he was putting his plans on hold, stating, "when I leave the game of basketball, then I'll focus on the next step of my life".[197] In 2015, he launched his PSD Underwear collection.[198]
Irving has been with Marlene Wilkerson since 2018 and the couple have two sons together.[199][200]
In August 2018, Irving and his older sister were honored with a "welcome home" ceremony at Standing Rock Indian Reservation, acknowledging their family ties to the community, and in gratitude for Irving's activism on behalf of the water protectors at the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Irving's mother was known to the tribe, though she was "adopted out" at a young age, and their late grandmother and great-grandparents also had ties to the reservation community.[201][202][203] Since then, he has continued to honor his Lakota heritage through donations to the tribe, designing Nike shoes dedicated to the Lakota people, as well as burning sage before every game.[204][205][206] In 2021, his petition for citizenship was granted and he became an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.[207][208]
Starting with the 2016–2017 season, Irving moved to a predominantly plant-based diet,[209] which he also referenced in a December 2017 Nike ad.[210] Since then, Irving has moved to a 100% plant-based diet.[211]
Irving is Muslim.[212][213] He has been fasting for Ramadan since 2021.[
