For his part, Irving believes it’s his role as a leader of the team to both support Simmons when he can, but also allow him the space to deal with things as he sees fit. “I think one of our greatest strengths as a human community is humanizing each other’s lives,” Irving said. “He’s a human being so he’s going to respond his way. And he’s going to deal with things his way and we have to honor and respect that, that’s what people with integrity do. Not everyone lives by those same moral principles so yeah, as a leader, I feel like it’s my responsibility to protect him, but I also must understand he has to go through things on his own. “And when he asks for help, just be there for him. It’s easier said than done. Help is very cheap. It’s free. You can offer it to anybody — so that’s just where I stand with it, brother.”
Source: Nick Friedell @ ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Erik Slater @erikslater_
Nets should work this DHO from Ben to KD/Kyrie all the time if defenders are going to sag off.
That’s automatic. pic.twitter.com/NDKGlQ16zH – 10:25 PM
Nets should work this DHO from Ben to KD/Kyrie all the time if defenders are going to sag off.
That’s automatic. pic.twitter.com/NDKGlQ16zH – 10:25 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Brooklyn reserves giving back a lot of this lead against Giannis and a couple Bucks starters — but no matter how final score ends up, this was a good night for the Nets. KD/Kyrie/Simmons all played well. Claxton gave them a nice lift. The chemistry they’ve been seeking was there. – 9:54 PM
Brooklyn reserves giving back a lot of this lead against Giannis and a couple Bucks starters — but no matter how final score ends up, this was a good night for the Nets. KD/Kyrie/Simmons all played well. Claxton gave them a nice lift. The chemistry they’ve been seeking was there. – 9:54 PM
Kane Pitman @KanePitman
Ben Simmons has looked superb tonight in Milwaukee. Defence, facilitating, looking to score when going down hill and not shying away from contact. Flanked by KD and Kyrie, he’s going to be a handful and no, he doesn’t need to shoot the three to be incredibly impactful in BKN. – 9:10 PM
Ben Simmons has looked superb tonight in Milwaukee. Defence, facilitating, looking to score when going down hill and not shying away from contact. Flanked by KD and Kyrie, he’s going to be a handful and no, he doesn’t need to shoot the three to be incredibly impactful in BKN. – 9:10 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks open the second half with a turnover from Giannis Antetokounmpo, which results in a Kyrie Irving layup and then a missed 3 from Antetokounmpo that led to another transition bucket.
It’s only the preseason, but that’s still a timeout 32 seconds into the second half. – 8:59 PM
Bucks open the second half with a turnover from Giannis Antetokounmpo, which results in a Kyrie Irving layup and then a missed 3 from Antetokounmpo that led to another transition bucket.
It’s only the preseason, but that’s still a timeout 32 seconds into the second half. – 8:59 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
Nets just capped off their best half of the preseason with a Royce O’Neale buzzer beater from about halfcourt. Simmons looked a lot more comfortable — Kyrie had 10 points and the Nets are looking a lot smoother on both ends than they did in the first two games. – 8:43 PM
Nets just capped off their best half of the preseason with a Royce O’Neale buzzer beater from about halfcourt. Simmons looked a lot more comfortable — Kyrie had 10 points and the Nets are looking a lot smoother on both ends than they did in the first two games. – 8:43 PM
Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
#Nets lead the #Bucks 21-20 with 3:03 to go in the first quarter.
Durant and Irving have four points each, Simmons had four assists.
Brooklyn just 0-for-3 from behind the three-point line.
Jrue Holiday has 11 points to lead all scorers. Antetokounmpo has four. – 8:00 PM
#Nets lead the #Bucks 21-20 with 3:03 to go in the first quarter.
Durant and Irving have four points each, Simmons had four assists.
Brooklyn just 0-for-3 from behind the three-point line.
Jrue Holiday has 11 points to lead all scorers. Antetokounmpo has four. – 8:00 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Giannis almost threw down an alley-oop that wouldve broken the satellite signal, all because Kyrie remembered he couldnt take foul and had to let the fast break develop. Even if it didnt result in points, just wanted to say thank you for fixing this and letting them unleash hell. – 7:55 PM
Giannis almost threw down an alley-oop that wouldve broken the satellite signal, all because Kyrie remembered he couldnt take foul and had to let the fast break develop. Even if it didnt result in points, just wanted to say thank you for fixing this and letting them unleash hell. – 7:55 PM
Jim Owczarski @JimOwczarski
At least for parts of this one at Fiserv Forum, this one could be a fun watch.
Jrue Holiday, Jevon Carter, Bobby Portis Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez start for the #Bucks while Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Royce O’Neale& Nic Claxton start for the #Nets. – 7:08 PM
At least for parts of this one at Fiserv Forum, this one could be a fun watch.
Jrue Holiday, Jevon Carter, Bobby Portis Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez start for the #Bucks while Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Royce O’Neale& Nic Claxton start for the #Nets. – 7:08 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Simmons, Irving, Durant, O’Neale and Claxton start for the #Nets vs the #Bucks. – 7:04 PM
Simmons, Irving, Durant, O’Neale and Claxton start for the #Nets vs the #Bucks. – 7:04 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Nets starters tonight vs. Milwaukee: Simmons, Irving, Durant, O’Neale and Claxton – 7:04 PM
Nets starters tonight vs. Milwaukee: Simmons, Irving, Durant, O’Neale and Claxton – 7:04 PM
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell
A couple pregame notes from Nash: Joe Harris (foot) is feeling better and progressing in the right direction. Nash is optimistic that he’ll be ready for the opener. As far as tonight goes, Nash said there’s a chance that KD, Kyrie, Simmons play a little more than 25 min. – 6:10 PM
A couple pregame notes from Nash: Joe Harris (foot) is feeling better and progressing in the right direction. Nash is optimistic that he’ll be ready for the opener. As far as tonight goes, Nash said there’s a chance that KD, Kyrie, Simmons play a little more than 25 min. – 6:10 PM
More on this storyline
Speaking on ESPN’s NBA Countdown, Stephen A. alleged that the clock is ticking on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant’s partnership in Brooklyn. “This is it. Barring a trade before the trading deadline, this is their last season together. Kyrie’s not re-signing in Brooklyn. Kyrie’s planning on going to Los Angeles. He’s trying to go to Los Angeles. That’s what he was trying to do over the summer. That’s what he’s trying to do now,” Smith told co-hosts Mike Greenberg, Michael Wilbon, and Jalen Rose. -via Clutch Points / October 13, 2022
However, Stephen A. Smith added that winning a championship will not dissuade Irving from his decision to pursue greener pastures in LA. “He knows he has to get through this season, whether they win or lose… Kyrie is pretty much gone,” Smith said, with the caveat that Irving could still return if the Nets break the bank for him. “Unless of course [Nets governor] Joe Tsai changes his mind and says okay, ‘here’s 250 million dollars over the next four years which we all sincerely doubt he would do.” -via Clutch Points / October 13, 2022
“For him, he’s grown up in Australia, there’s not much of a — I don’t want to disrespect his upbringing, but I don’t know if there’s a space where there’s a melting pot full of diversity and races coming together talking about issues as politics. And it’s just one world that you can honestly say what you feel. And not every country has shared that same freedom so for me telling him not only just ‘F all of it,’ but you got to be able to deal with it. You got to be able to face it.” -via ESPN / October 13, 2022