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The NBA is crossing its fingers that Kyrie Irving will show up, together with Kevin Durant, to give the Brooklyn Nets their coveted 1-2 punch next season. “Uncle Drew” reportedly wanted to win in Brooklyn regardless of how Durant’s trade demand would have ended.
Brooklyn is once again one of the favorites to win the title due to, presumably, the huge chips on the shoulders of KD and Irving. Most fans are expecting Irving, in particular, to ball out considering it's a contract year for him.
NBA Insider David Aldridge, on “The Athletic NBA Show,” isn’t ready to trust Kyrie Irving yet after years of drama:
“Nobody’s saying Kyrie is not great. He is great! But, part of being great is showing up every night. That’s what I’ve always said that part of greatness is coming out and performing every night.
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“It’s hard to do Hamlet every night. Sometimes, you don’t feel like doing Hamlet. But that curtain goes up? You gotta be there talking Hamlet.”
The NBA season is a 82-game grind, and if there’s one thing Brooklyn Nets fans fear more than injury, it’s Irving’s unreliability and off-court issues. Both could derail the Nets’ campaign yet again.
Most NBA analysts concede that anything could come from left field if it concerns Kyrie Irving. He often does what he wants without batting an eyelid. It’s one of the biggest reasons why he has missed more games than played over the last three seasons with the Nets.
Relying on Irving to do as expected by the team may be asking too much from the mercurial point guard. The Brooklyn Nets may not be willing to give the seven-time All-Star a new deal even if they win a championship.
The biggest reason for that is likely their conviction that one of the game’s most skilled players is also possibly its most unreliable.
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Kyrie Irving has yet to prove his big-game reputation in the postseason with the Brooklyn Nets
Kyrie Irving’s popularity reached its peak when he nailed a three-pointer over Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. It was one of the most iconic shots in league history and one that will never stop playing in Ohio.
Since signing with the Brooklyn Nets, Irving’s performances have largely been forgettable. He’s won only one postseason series alongside Durant as they eliminated the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2021 playoffs.
Boston promptly replied with a sweep of the Nets last season. In that series, Irving made his presence felt only in Game 1 where he dropped 39 points. “Uncle Drew” mesmerized the NBA in the fourth quarter of that game after he exploded for 18 points.
After Game 1, a fully healthy Irving disappeared. Over the next three games, he scored 10, 16 and 20 points, respectively. Just when the Brooklyn Nets expected him to be at his best, he wilted.
Kyrie Irving will have to do his share of the heavy lifting for Brooklyn in the regular season and also prove his worth once the playoffs start. Many expect him to do just that, but some, like David Aldridge, remain skeptical.
