Months after the controversial exit from the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving returned to his former home tonight. The Dallas Mavericks star put up a great show, dropping 36 points to lead his side to a comfortable 119-107. And Uncle Drew’s emotional return didn’t end there. Following the game, he dropped a heartwarming statement on how the city has impacted him into becoming an NBA player.

Tim Bontemps, an ESPN reporter, shared the transcript of the latest statement via his X handle. Kyrie started off his statement by paying gratitude to the city. He said, “Everything that I’ve learned about myself has come from being in the city and being in Jersey. So when I got an opportunity to play for… the Brooklyn Nets… It was a childhood dream.” 

As he spoke about the city, Kyrie Irving took a walk down memory lane. He recalled watching the New Jersey Nets games in the 2002 and the 2003 Finals. Notably, before the franchise moved the city to Brooklyn in 2012, the franchise was called NJ Nets. Irving added, “I left an NBA Finals game watching J-Kidd play, watching Kerry Kittles play, watching Kenyon Martin play.” 

Before the KD-Kyrie-Harden era, it was the early 2000 Nets team that got the team almost closer to the championship. Apart from the ABA glory in 1976, the Nets haven’t had a ring yet in the NBA. But, the Nets team led by Jason Kidd, Kittles, Richard Jefferson, and Martin took the side to back-to-back Finals.

However, the Lakers and Spurs had the last laugh, leaving the Nets Nation in misery. Furthermore, he spoke about his controversial exit from the franchise. He said, “I look back on it and there were mistakes. And I have to be accountable for those things. I’m not perfect.”

Kyrie Irving Reminisces “Unfortunate” Brooklyn Stint, Hours Before Emotional Return

Let’s take a closer look at Irving’s stay in Brooklyn.

Uncle Drew’s stint with the Nets

After a brief stint with the Boston Celtics, Irving moved to the Nets in 2019. He stayed there until the mid-way of the 2022-23 season. During his stint at the Nets, he also roped in James Harden and Kevin Durant. But, the collaboration wasn’t the greatest one, as it didn’t last more than a season. However, Kyrie and Durant had a pretty decent stay.

Irving reached two Eastern Conference Finals. And, speaking of it, he said, “I got to experience the high and lows of being part of two Eastern Comference finals, watching them get very close and be defeated.”

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What do you make of Kyrie Irving’s emotional tribute to the city of Brooklyn? Let us know in the comments below.