Despite the Brooklyn Nets ending their NBA preseason with two victories, reporters are still wondering how the team’s culture shifted following Kevin Durant’s trade request, guard Kyrie Irving thinks they improved.
In an interview with Shams Charania of The Athletic, Irving discussed the situation and how the team’s dealt with it. “When Kev made that request, I feel like we got better. Afterwards. Not initially, but now where we are now, I feel like we can honestly say we got better, with the principles that are needed for success,” said Irving. “Without going through some test in the summertime or during the season, we wouldn’t be able to be as close and bonded as we are now.”
Irving also reflected on his career and his understanding of the NBA business:
“When I asked for a trade from Cleveland, the one thing that I look back on is: Did I exhaust as many opportunities to get closer to guys when I felt some type of difference? There was a lot of things that happened in the business that I didn’t understand. Asking for a trade — I don’t think it was my time to ask for a trade. And especially to go to Boston, who was No. 2 or No. 1 in our conference, it’s just right down the street. I’m grateful that I had my time there because it was one of the most historical franchises that again, I did not know the power of our industry.”
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