By now, you already know about Kyrie Irving’s latest move and how it has the Nets scrambling to protect their future just days before the trade deadline.
By all accounts, Irving appears to be motivated by failed extension talks with the Nets, which reportedly included stipulations that insulted Irving and his camp. Now he’s declaring all-out war against the team in his bid to force himself out.
Despite all of this unfolding in the last 24 hours, the Nets still have games to play and Kyrie was expected to suit up until he wasn’t part of the team anymore.
But as the Nets consider their trade options, Irving has apparently elected to skip out on the against the Wizards tonight, citing “right calf soreness” as his excuse for the absence. Ahead of the game, the news forced an aggressive response from head coach Jacque Vaughn.
“I think you have a responsibility as a basketball player, like I do as a coach. I show up, I do my job every single day, that’s what I signed up for, and that’s my expectation for one through seventeen.”
Jacque Vaughn when asked if he feels Kyrie is letting the team down:
"I think you have a responsibility as a basketball player, like I do as a coach. I show up, I do my job every single day, that's what I signed up for, and that's my expectation for one through seventeen." pic.twitter.com/LsByT6wSeC
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 4, 2023
Vaughn avoided naming Irving directly, which is good because it probably would have done more harm than good. What he did do is condemn Kyrie’s behavior subtly and sent a message to the team about what he expects from each and every player.
Unfortunately, Kyrie Irving doesn’t play by the same rules as everyone else.
Which Team Will Kyrie Play For Next?
With his exit from the Nets all but assured (whether this season or in the summer, many experts have tagged the Lakers as the team most likely to become his next home and it’s no Kyrie is keen on a reunion with LeBron.
Let’s be clear: Of all the inane things Irving has done since becoming a Net, this doesn’t register on the Richter scale. He’s trying to secure his basketball future, with most sources believing he’s aiming for a reunion with LeBron James in Los Angeles, (Yahoo! Sports’ Vincent Goodwill).
Only time will tell how this unfolds for Irving, but this is now the third team in his career that he’s abandoned and destroyed. if he wants to secure a long-term contract, perhaps he should show some more consistency and stop finding reasons to skip games.
Whatever the case, Vaughn isn’t going to make any excuses for Kyrie. He made this mess and now he’s got to lay in it, regardless of the consequences.
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