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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

Kyrie Irving made the headlines a few days back for the right reasons. The Dallas Mavericks star traveled 7,499 miles to land in China to release his new logo with the sportswear brand Anta. Following his involvement with the $29.84 billion worth of the company, the question arose over his pre-season involvement in Abu Dhabi.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

The 31-year-old caught the eyes of the entire NBA world with his recent actions but it only made the doubts over his future more prominent.

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What did Kyrie Irving do in the past few days?

After signing a five-year deal with the Chinese brand, Irving became their Chief Creative Officer. As part of the contract, he recently visited the country, bringing in excitement amongst the local fans. The supporters welcomed his endorsement move with open arms as the news of a signature shoe line took the forefront.

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USA Today via Reuters

The point guard spent quality time there in the events as the company launched a new logo for him. The shape of it resembled his previous one with Nike to a certain extent as the initial letter of his name ‘K’, alongside his jersey number ’11’ was prominent. Following this marketing from the billion-dollar organization, the NBA fans wondered about one thing.

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That was, of course, when Kyrie would step on the court again. The Mavs released their 21-man squad ahead of their training camp on 27 September. The list contained the NBA champion’s name in the guards section. So, Irving is expected to start training from that day with Dallas playing their first preseason game on October 5.

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They would face last season’s play-off spot holders Minnesota Timberwolves in that match. The 8-time All-Star could feature in that game alongside his teammate to go up against the conference rivals. His involvement during that period is anticipated and important for various reasons.

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Why must he be a part of the preseason camp from day one?

Many put under question the decision from the league to host their training camps abroad. Thus, the NBA would prefer to have all of its superstars present in Abu Dhabi this time around. Kyrie certainly qualifies in that category and on top of that, the franchise also has high hopes for him.

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After retaining him for a 3-year $120 million contract, they want him on the court for as many games as possible. In recent months, things have been turning in his favor slowly but surely. Irving would love to maintain the momentum, especially after last season’s heartbreak.

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His comeback on the court is a much-awaited one following his time in China. But the elite ball-handler has surely shouldered a new task ahead of the upcoming season.

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Written by

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Sourav Bose

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Sourav is a detail-oriented NBA content writer at EssentiallySports. His passion for the game of basketball was ignited by none other than the captivating duo of Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr. As he delved into the illustrious history of the NBA, his fascination grew exponentially. Enthralled by ''The Last Dance', Sourav eagerly immerses himself in NBA-related narratives, movies, books, and documentaries, a dedicated effort to stay abreast of the latest developments in the basketball world.

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Bilal Handoo

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