If Dallas Mavericks fans had any fears about Kyrie Irving coming to their team this season and then just leaving in the offseason, the man himself is doing nothing to ease them. At least for now.
There’s already been talk of Irving potentially leaving the Mavericks this summer for Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns. Plus, the Kyrie to the Lakers rumors will always be there as a specter looking over the Mavericks’ shoulders.
With all the speculation out there, it’s only natural for reporters to start asking questions about Irving’s future. The problem was he didn’t really have any answers. At least, not one that would make Mavericks fans feel better about the situation.
He’s only focused on the present with Dallas.
Kyrie Irving asks not to continue being asked about his future beyond this season, saying it creates “unwarranted distractions” for the Mavs and him. “I’m just taking it one day at a time,” Irving said, emphasizing how positive his time with the Mavs has been thus far.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) February 13, 2023
Here’s more from Irving.
Kyrie Irving doesn't want to talk about the future: "I would love to just have the respect of you guys and everybody the rest of the season of just continuously asking me that because it just puts unwarranted distractions on us and our team." pic.twitter.com/O1J9Sm13PK
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) February 14, 2023
“I’ve dealt with it before and it’s very emotionally draining to ask questions like, ‘What’s the long-term? What’s the long-term?’ But I will say that from the start of when I came here, there’s been nothing but a warm embrace. Nothing but a genuine love and nothing but familiarity of relationships that I can look to in times of questioning or confusion.”
I guess that last part is good to hear if you’re a Mavericks fan? I’m not sure. It’s hard to really make anything out of what Irving is saying here.
Honestly, it’s totally fair for him to have this answer right now. The dude hasn’t even been there for a week just yet. He certainly doesn’t know what his feelings about the organization will be in a few months, let alone in a couple of weeks. It’s natural to take a wait-and-see approach there.
Of course, with Irving, it’s hard to know what his true feelings are even when he does tell you. Just a couple weeks ago there was “no way” he was leaving Kevin Durant. Now, here we are.
As uneasy as things will feel for Mavericks fans, it’s going to be a day-by-day thing with him. It is what it is. Buckle in and hope for the best.
