February 6, 2023, marked a pivotal moment for the Dallas Mavericks as they officially confirmed the acquisition of Kyrie Irving through a trade. Exactly one year later, Irving made a triumphant return to the court where he once donned the Brooklyn Nets jersey. The anticipation for the showdown was palpable, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter. However, Irving swiftly dispelled all notions that the game held, flushing it as a regular NBA matchup. True to his words, he led the Mavericks to a 119-107 victory with a 36-point display. Furthermore, he shot over 60%, going 15-24 from the field and 6-10 from beyond the arc.
Amid Irving’s stellar performance, a notable exchange occurred with a courtside fan. As Irving awaited to inbound the ball, a fan queried why he didn’t display the same level of play in a Nets jersey. In response, Kyrie quipped, “Thank Mayor Adams for that, bro.”
I asked @KyrieIrving why he didn’t play like this when he was in the @BrooklynNets ? He told me to thank @NYCMayor for that #netsworld pic.twitter.com/RtG33m7fUR
— Courtside Nets (@Courtsidenets) February 7, 2024
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During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Eric Adams imposed a mandate requiring vaccinations. Irving, staunchly opposed, later found himself at odds rendering him unavailable for the Nets. Although the Mayor lifted this mandate in March 2022 for public indoor venues, Irving’s situation still remained complicated. Privately owned, Nets’ Arena did not fall under the revised mandate, and despite being permitted to enter the building, Irving was still prohibited from playing.
Moreover, when Kyrie was traded to the Mavs, Mayor Adams deployed one of the direct jabs at Irving. The Mayor claimed that if he could trade Irving, he would have sent Kyrie to the team that had a better record against them. All this, just so that the Mayor could beat Kyrie’s new squad.
Fans take over the comment section
As the video gained traction, fans couldn’t resist sharing their diverse opinions. Immediately, Kyrie’s controversial stance on vaccinations came in. @NetsMuse sarcastically remarked, “Guy lost $16 Million and a championship just to duck a Covid shot.” The comment hinted at the reported $16 million Kyrie allegedly lost due to his off-court controversies, particularly during his tenure with the Nets.
https://x.com/NetsMuse/status/1755066274059555145?s=20
In contrast to this, @basketbllnews asserted that Kyrie’s skills remained consistent during his time with the Nets, commending him and tagging the player.
https://x.com/basketbllnews/status/1755064854124400850?s=20
Another fan chimed in, suggesting that Kyrie’s performance had even improved with the Nets.
https://x.com/SayNoMo0/status/1755062247938769182?s=20
@MichaelVCassidy took a holistic approach, acknowledging the fan’s comparison of Kyrie’s playing styles and emphasizing Kyrie’s response as nothing short of legendary.
https://x.com/MichaelVCassidy/status/1755063109528490263?s=20
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However, @huskeeyee entered the conversation, echoing similar sentiments while probing the source of the fan’s remarks.
https://x.com/huskeeyee/status/1755063776770973919?s=20
When analyzing Kyrie’s performance with the Mavs and the Nets, he currently maintains a slightly lower scoring average. However, his shooting percentage from the field and beyond the arc has risen to over 40%. Moreover, his frequency of turnovers and fouls has decreased.
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Despite the argument that Luka Doncic leads the team, it’s crucial to note that Kyrie has been through more on-court drama and action than during his time with the Brooklyn Nets.
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