Kyrie Irving issued a statement instead of speaking to the Nets media

Kyrie really doesn’t like the media.

Kyrie Irving has always told everyone who would listen about how much he hates the media obligations that come with his job as an NBA player.

Apparently, he’s found a way to skip them this season.

NBA teams are going through media week where players and coaches are making themselves available to speak to the media ahead of training camp starting this weekend.

Irving skipped out on that obligation on Friday. Instead of speaking to the media, Irving left a statement with a Nets spokesperson who passed it on to the media.

In it, he talked about COVID-19’s impact on the world, how he’s praying for everyone’s safety through the season, how he wanted to make sure his message was “conveyed” properly and how he is committed to showing up and playing for the Nets this season.

He said pretty much everything but “I ain’t speaking to y’all” today. Take a look.

I am committed to show up to work everyday, ready to have fun, compete, performan and win championships alongside my teammates and colleagues in the Nets organization. My goal this season is to let my work on and off the court speak for itself. Life hit differently this year and it requires us, it requires me, to move differently. So, this is the beginning of that change.” 

Sounds like the Nets media might not be speaking too much with Kyrie Irving this season. We’ll see how this works out.

On the other hand, though, this miiiight just leave Irving’s pockets a little bit lighter.

We’re finally going to get the NBA’s version of Marshawn Lynch’s greatest hit “I‘m just here so I don’t get fined.” Fantastic.

Rockets Media Day highlights: Stephen Silas and DeMarcus Cousins

Houston’s recent acquisition of John Wall was a popular topic of discussion in Thursday’s chat with Stephen Silas and DeMarcus Cousins.

Less than 24 hours after the blockbuster trade involving John Wall and a future draft pick for Russell Westbrook, members of the Houston Rockets met with the media on Thursday afternoon from training camp.

Thursday’s speakers were new head coach Stephen Silas and recent signing DeMarcus Cousins. For Silas, it was his first availability to reporters since the team’s flurry of offseason moves — which culminated with the Westbrook-for-Wall swap on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Cousins discussed not only his own decision to join the Rockets, but also his friendship with Wall after playing with the 6-foot-4 guard at the University of Kentucky more than a decade ago.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Cousins, who called Wall a “brother for life” in his comments about playing with Wall in Houston. “This is something that me and him have planned and dreamed about for a long time.”

See below for a social media compilation of the most important takeaways from Thursday’s media session at Toyota Center.

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