When controversial star Kyrie Irving demanded a trade from the Brooklyn Nets he also threatened to sit out the remainder of the season if his demands were not met.
The move came just two days after Irving told the Nets that he wanted to be traded by Thursday's league deadline, after talks about a contract beyond this season didn't go to his liking.
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He wasn't with the Nets for their game on Saturday, and by Sunday afternoon, his time with the franchise he cheered for growing up in New York and New Jersey appeared to be at an end.
"Thank you NetsWorld fans and supporters for the Love on and off the court," Irving tweeted early Monday morning. "I will forever be grateful I got to live out my dream I had as a Kid with y'all. It will always be Love from me and my family."
It's understood Irving's top priority was to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers to reunite with LeBron James, with many commentators predicting the move.
NBA reporter Marc Stein claims team owner Joe Tsai sent out a directive to officials to not comply with Irving's preferences and send him anywhere other than the Lakers.
The Lakers reportedly offered Russell Westbrook and two first round picks for Irving, but the Nets asked for more and ultimately traded Irving to Dallas.
The Mavericks sent Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, a 2029 first round draft pick and two second round picks in exchange for Irving and Markieff Morris.
The deal with the Mavericks gave the Nets immediate cover at point guard and future picks.
Irving had been seeking around a four-year $198.5 maximum extension, according to ESPN.
Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season. Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is averaging 33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.2 assists. They instantly become one of the NBA's top duos, and figure to make Dallas even a stronger contender in a Western Conference that has no shortage of championship-capable teams.
Irving is, for now, scheduled to become a free agent after the season. The Lakers were believed to have been one of a few teams interested in Irving — a notion that could have reunited Irving with LeBron James, with whom he won a title with in Cleveland in 2016.
The trade does again pair Irving with Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, who was a Nike executive before taking over the Mavericks in 2021.
Irving had a relationship with Nike for the entirety of his NBA career until earlier this season, when the sneaker giant dropped him — and cancelled the planned release of his next signature shoe just before it dropped — as part of the massive fallout from Irving posting a link to an antisemitic film on his Twitter account.
-- Additional reporting by Sacha Mirzabegian.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
When controversial star Kyrie Irving demanded a trade from the Brooklyn Nets he also threatened to sit out the remainder of the season if his demands were not met.
The move came just two days after Irving told the Nets that he wanted to be traded by Thursday's league deadline, after talks about a contract beyond this season didn't go to his liking.
READ MORE: League great rips Latrell, Wighton over dust-up
READ MORE: EPL powerhouse rocked by stunning allegations
READ MORE: Defiant message after stars' arrest 'adversity'
He wasn't with the Nets for their game on Saturday, and by Sunday afternoon, his time with the franchise he cheered for growing up in New York and New Jersey appeared to be at an end.
"Thank you NetsWorld fans and supporters for the Love on and off the court," Irving tweeted early Monday morning. "I will forever be grateful I got to live out my dream I had as a Kid with y'all. It will always be Love from me and my family."
It's understood Irving's top priority was to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers to reunite with LeBron James, with many commentators predicting the move.
NBA reporter Marc Stein claims team owner Joe Tsai sent out a directive to officials to not comply with Irving's preferences and send him anywhere other than the Lakers.
The Lakers reportedly offered Russell Westbrook and two first round picks for Irving, but the Nets asked for more and ultimately traded Irving to Dallas.
The Mavericks sent Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, a 2029 first round draft pick and two second round picks in exchange for Irving and Markieff Morris.
The deal with the Mavericks gave the Nets immediate cover at point guard and future picks.
Irving had been seeking around a four-year $198.5 maximum extension, according to ESPN.
Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season. Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is averaging 33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.2 assists. They instantly become one of the NBA's top duos, and figure to make Dallas even a stronger contender in a Western Conference that has no shortage of championship-capable teams.
Irving is, for now, scheduled to become a free agent after the season. The Lakers were believed to have been one of a few teams interested in Irving — a notion that could have reunited Irving with LeBron James, with whom he won a title with in Cleveland in 2016.
The trade does again pair Irving with Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, who was a Nike executive before taking over the Mavericks in 2021.
Irving had a relationship with Nike for the entirety of his NBA career until earlier this season, when the sneaker giant dropped him — and cancelled the planned release of his next signature shoe just before it dropped — as part of the massive fallout from Irving posting a link to an antisemitic film on his Twitter account.
-- Additional reporting by Sacha Mirzabegian.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
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