What did Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving say to fans about his intentions for free agency?
The Mavs’ point guard isn’t very happy about the constant questions surrounding his intentions for the future and that’s why he won’t answer anymore.
Though you could be tempted to think, that Kyrie Irving might be using the constant chatter and speculation about what he’ll do in free agency as a means to affect the market - some athletes do this - the All-Star guard has now made it clear that he actually doesn’t like it at all.
Don’t ask Kyrie Irving about his future
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Mavericks point guard, Kyrie Irving, no doubt you would have seen his comments earlier this week. Addressing the issue of his coming free-agency, Irving made it clear that he has no desire to discuss his future at this time. Moreover, the former Nets star directly asked fans to leave both him and the topic alone.
*please be advised the following clip contains abusive language*
“Stop mentioning me on Twitter,” Irving said. “All y’all fan bases, stop mentioning me right now. Please...Can you please leave me the f*** out of this? Please can I just be with my family in peace? Y’all got people at my dinner table discussing what my free agency plans are. Stop that. Y’all think it’s funny s***, but please stop that.”
Why all the questions? How did Kyrie Irving get here?
It was just this season gone, when Irving was traded to the Mavericks after what can only be called a disastrous spell with the Brooklyn Nets. Not only was he absent for a massive number of games due to his refusal to receive the covid-19 vaccine, something which created mass amounts of public debate. There was also his now infamous endorsement of an antisemitic video on social media, which led to a number of consequences including suspension from both his team and the league, fines and even the termination of his endorsement deal with Nike.
This is all to say, Dallas was meant to be a new lease on life for a player that nobody doubts is extremely talented. Yet, that’s not what happened. Quite the opposite in fact as Irving blatantly struggled after joining Luka Dončić and Co. To be fair, both he and the Slovenian star began to struggle with injuries shortly after his arrival, but what will be remembered first is the fact that the Mavs went from fourth in the West to failing to make the playoffs. Naturally, that has created the notion of Dallas being a bad fit such that he would simply look to depart in free-agency. Ultimately, as much as his continued silence and the request for respect for it is understandable, it only fans the flames of speculation given everything we just explained.
So, what’s Kyrie Irving’s situation right now?
If you didn’t know, Irving is up for a four-year, $220.6 million deal in free agency this coming summer. Should he continue in Dallas, he would be eligible for a contract worth around $272 million across five years. It’s worth noting that, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said just last month that retaining Irving remains the franchise’s goal now that the season has ended. To be clear, June 30th is the date when free-agency begins so there is still some time, however, his two recent courtside appearances during the Lakers playoff series definitely set tongues wagging about a possible reunion with his former teammate, LeBron James, with whom he won a title while playing with the Cavs. At any rate, this is simply speculation, something the man himself asked folks not to do. With that in mind, all we can do for the moment is consider his own words when it comes to what his future holds:
“I am a free agent this summer, but I am in no rush to make a decision. ...The TV personalities, the sports folk that try to mix sports with politics and lifestyle and s*** like that - when they speak on my name and they’re talking about potential teams that I’m going to - can y’all please, respectfully I’m asking, please stop paying attention to that? ...I am in no rush to make a decision. I know what’s ahead of me in terms of for the rest of my career.”