Irving admits his status was a distraction to the Nets this season, but he is adamant that he will return to Brooklyn in the fall. The song is over at 1:07.
In the wake of their season-ending sweep by the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets acknowledged that all the issues they dealt with off the floor had a big impact on how they played on it.
Nets guard Kyrie Irving said after their 116-112 Game 4 loss that it was heavy emotionally. I felt like I was letting the team down by not being able to play. We were trying to exercise every option for me to play, but I wanted it to be more about me. At times, I think it became a distraction. We just had some drastic changes.
It was noteworthy that Irving acknowledged that his decision not to get vaccine against COVID-19 hung over everything the Nets did all season. They started the season under a cloud of uncertainty because of a New York City mandate that required all workers to be vaccine free in order to return to work. Irving was not allowed to play as a part-time player by the Nets before they reversed course in December. Irving was only able to play in road games after New York City Mayor Eric Adams withdrew the mandate for athletes and performers.
The Nets dealt with a number of injuries this season, including an ankle injury to guard Joe Harris that forced him to miss all but 14 games, an injury to star forward Kevin Durant that forced him to miss six weeks, and a trade at the deadline. Harden acknowledged that the trade was made in part because of Irving's part-time status, and that Simmons requested a trade out of Philadelphia last summer after a back injury.
Steve Nash said that the distraction off the floor was a big reason why the team was in that position. What happens on the floor is influenced by all those things off the floor. They are tied, and there is no question that it has an impact. There were too many things that held us back over the course of the season.
The Nets lost 17 of 20 games in February, and had an 11-game losing streak without KD. They were ready to turn a corner when another event changed the course of their season. The Nets finished the season with a 44-38 record, good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, and a play-in game win over Cleveland on April 12 solidified their spot in the playoffs. The Nets were never able to find the rhythm they needed in order to make it to the playoffs.
After getting swept for the first time in his career, KD said he had no regrets. There was no crying over spilled milk. We can progress and get better from here. We have been through a lot this year. Everyone in the organization knows what we went through. It's not time to be upset or feel regret. It is about how we can find solutions to get better.
Even the great teams don't dwell on what they do, they just try to keep getting better. We know what our mistakes were, so we try to turn them into strengths. We cannot have no regrets about what we did. It played out the way it was supposed to.
The Nets were frustrated with the season and how the series against the Celtics played out, but there was almost a sense of relief that things finally ended on Monday night. The pressure the Nets dealt with on and off the floor proved to be too much for a group that never hit the high ceiling many thought was possible.
Irving said that they lost a franchise player in Harden and that they got a franchise player back in Simmons. Simmons didn't have to step on the floor with us. Ben is good. Ben is with us, we have his back. He will be good for next year. We just turn the page and look forward to what we are building as a franchise.
It is some added motivation when you get swept like this. We just look for the future as a team and what we can accomplish for the next few years, and I get excited about that.
Simmons was not at the Nets game on Monday night because he was dealing with back issues, according to the Nets. Irving said that he doesn't plan on going anywhere, when asked about working out a possible long-term extension this summer. He has a player option worth over $30 million.
Irving said there was no question about where he was going and how this would happen. I have averaged many points and done many things. At this point in my career, I just want to be a part of a great team, even though I have been recognized for my greatness. Don't really focus on any individual achievements or accolades. My focus going into the summer is just building with my teammates, just really build something special.
Nash is the coach of the Nets next season, and it was clear that he would like to have him back.
Steve has had to deal with a lot of stuff over the last two years. I am proud of how he focused and cared for us. Over the summer, we continue to develop and see what happens.
The Nets embark on what could be an interesting summer, and both Irving and Durant made it clear that they believe brighter days are ahead for the organization.
Irving said that managing the franchise together was something that he and Kev had to do. I don't want to make it just about me and Kev, but we have a few other guys on contract. We have to make some moves this off-season, talk about it, and have fun with it, make it enjoyable.
Hopefully we get to start from day one as a squad and as a family, and we just really worry about ourselves. Sometimes I feel like the noise on the outside world can be heard. I think we need to be tougher mentally and more honest about what we want to accomplish as we build our squad, because I am not the type of person to allow that to happen. Stick to the goal and the mission.
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