The Brooklyn Nets last season were expected to win the NBA championship. But a year later, the Nets ended up being swept in the first round, and one of their superstars, Kevin Durant, demanded a trade. After weeks of speculation, KD might have opted to stay, but Brooklyn fans are not the most confident of the team going into the season.
Perhaps the biggest reason for this is Kyrie Irving. Last season, Irving missed a majority of games due to his decision not to be vaccinated. This cost the Nets dearly. With James Harden getting frustrated and eventually demanding a trade, Brooklyn struggled to be competitive in the regular season.
Although he was back for the playoffs, Irving failed to impact the series against the Boston Celtics as he had some disappointing performances. But it seems like the guard is ready to prove his doubters wrong for the upcoming season. Recently, Kyrie was spotted putting in the work with fellow NBA players like Trae Young, Michael Porter Jr., and Victor Oladipo.
There, the guard can be seen absolutely putting on a show. Be it his impeccable dribbling, finishing at the rim, or even shooting a deep three, Irving can be seen doing it all in his latest practice video.
Kyrie is too smooth. 🔥
(via @ThroughTheLens)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 28, 2022
If this is the version that Irving ends up with for the upcoming season, there is no doubt the Nets can become a championship contender. The Nets have multiple talented players like Irving, Durant, and Simmons leading the way.
While KD has often been their most consistent player, the same cannot be said about Kyrie and Simmons. If the two stars show up consistently and can help support Durant’s firepower, the Nets will look like one of the best teams in the league.
The ceiling for this Brooklyn team is very high, but can they capitalize on this opportunity and contend for a championship next season?
