A relaxed and reflective Kyrie Irving opened up to some ‘pawns’ about his boycott

Kyrie Irving has ended his brief boycott with the media. He took a much lighter approach during his first press conference of the season.

Kyrie Irving raised eyebrows when he issued a statement that his play would “speak for itself” this season, presumably boycotting the press.

While he may have felt this strategy was in his best interest, unfortunately for the Brooklyn Nets star, the move was in direct violation of league media obligations. As such, earlier this week, both Irving and the Brooklyn organization were hit with fines of $25,000 apiece for the truancy violation.

Irving then doubled down on the unusual hand he was playing, posting on Instagram that he “does not talk to pawns.” It was a shot at both the league office, who administered the fine, and basketball reporters.

But when he did actually speak to reporters for the first time this season on December 14, Irving had a more optimistic and conciliatory tone. Unpredictable both on the court and off, Irving was nowhere near the anti-media crusader that he has been painted as in recent days.

Early in the press conference, he said that he was “grateful to be sitting” with everyone. Overall, the mood of the conversation had a significantly lighter touch than what some may have expected from Irving. This was a huge step in the right direction toward greater harmony between the two parties.

Those who have criticized how Irving has recently handled the media should also pay attention to how well he actually treated all of the journalists who he spoke with on Monday. This version of Irving, which will not get as many headlines, is just as much a part of his character.

Irving was grateful, thanking everyone for their time and consideration. He was patient, making sure that reporters got answers to two-part questions and to follow-up questions. He was engaged, providing useful intel and thought-provoking answers about the Nets.

He didn’t have to do that. As our own Mike D. Sykes II wrote last week, he could “just pull a Marshawn Lynch” and say that he was just there so he would not get fined. He could have given canned answers, not providing any insight into the inner-workings of his team. That’s not exactly an uncommon approach for professional athletes.

There are valid reasons for Irving to be upset with the way he has been covered. When the league was discussing ways to handle a return to play amidst a pandemic and an ongoing social justice movement sweeping our nation, for example, Irving was reportedly a “driving force” when raising concerns about the restart and resisting the urge for groupthink.

This was met with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that Irving has “forged a reputation as a disruptor within his career” by often going against the league’s establishment.

It’s not hard to understand why an athlete like Irving might feel he’s been unfairly portrayed, or to see how speaking with reporters could grow tiresome. Irving seemed to want to be done with it all — and it was fair to expect an awkward exchange on Monday afternoon.

Instead, he seemed genuinely willing to take part in the back-and-forth necessary for a good relationship between a reporter and a subject.

As expected, the guard was asked about the statement that he recently released. He offered a candid explanation for his recent absence from the microphone (via Nets Wire):

“You know, we go through a rigorous season, we do everything we’re asked to do and we want to perform in a secure, protected space — and if I can’t have my voice protected on this platform where I offer myself and my art, just inviting everyone to it because this is what I’ve been blessed to do. You know I didn’t make it from the best circumstances, I made it because my family had a foundation, taught me the right things, how to look at principles of life. So, having that in basketball, my art, you know, it’s just finding a balance, you know, and that’s all.”

This is aligned with the initial goal of his statement, which was to make sure that his message is conveyed properly. Irving, who many consider one of the more enigmatic players in the NBA, wants to make sure that his words aren’t twisted.

Irving, a vocal critic of “clickbait society“, literally told Yahoo’s Chris Haynes that media breaks up locker rooms. It was a surprise to no one that Irving was hesitant to speak to the media this year.

But even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increasing anxiety about the schism between players and the media.

Now that players have such strong digital presences and platforms to share their messages, many feel that they can brand themselves as they wish rather than filtering through the lens of somebody else. Those stresses have only exacerbated as health and safety precautions surrounding COVID-19 have shut down locker-room access.

Potentially losing access to one of the NBA’s top stars in Irving was a looming threat as well as many wondered if this would create a path for other players to do the same. So when Irving joined a Zoom session with reporters earlier this afternoon, for the first time this season, everyone was able to enjoy a nice little exhale.

If this continues and there is a more symbiotic relationship between Irving and the media, it will be better for the league. The stories written about him will have better detail and more color and the tension between the two parties will be relieved. Perhaps this means that there can be more coverage not only about his fantastic play on the floor but also of him using his resources to help his community, donating nearly $2 million in 2020.

Most importantly, shuttering the case of Irving v. The Media would be helpful for the Nets. It will limit off-the-court distractions so the coaching staff and the front office and his teammates can focus solely on basketball instead of a feud that helps no one.

[lawrence-related id=970685,967332,927439]

[listicle id=959798]