Kyrie Irving breaks silence following a disappointing end to Dallas Mavericks season
Kyrie Irving didn’t speak to the media after the Mavericks season ended. Instead, he took to Twitter.
Kyrie Irving was a lot of things for the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of the NBA season.
When he first arrived, he was the savior. After a few unexpected losses, he was characterized as the problem. Both observations were untrue. If anything, Irving was exactly who Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison asked him to be following his trade to Dallas days before the trade deadline — himself.
Still, following the Mavs' season ending on Sunday, Irving elected not to speak to the media and answer inevitable questions about his future with the organization. Irving is an unrestricted free agent this summer and has yet to indicate whether he will stay with the franchise or bolt for greener pastures.
Where Irving did speak, however, was on his Twitter platform. A place he goes to directly speak to his fans, or his "tribe," as he calls them.
“A Big Thank you to every single one of you around the world that’s prayed for me and reached out through texts, calls, or DMs to lend their support over these past few years. I love you and I appreciate you and your family. Let’s keep building our A11Even TRIBE,” Irving tweeted.
It was a message that did not indicate the direction Irving leans regarding free agency, and that is to be expected. He is one of the most unpredictable stars in the NBA.
In an exit interview on Sunday, Luka Doncic made his pitch and plea to Irving. The Mavs' star sees him as a benefit to the team, regardless of the national narrative around Irving.
"I think it's a great fit," Doncic said on Sunday. "Chemistry and relationships, it takes time. I wish he could stay right here… He's a great player. He just wants peace."
Theo Pinson, who is close to Irving dating back to their days together in Brooklyn, is of the assumption that Irving returning to Dallas is a good bet because of the people he is surrounded by. Meanwhile, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd detailed that, if he were a betting man, is confident that Irving will return to the team following free agency this summer.
Irving is seeking a max contract extension. It has been reported he wants something in the ballpark of five years, $272 million.
Mavericks governor Mark Cuban has yet to publically commit to a full-length extension for Irving. Instead, he sighted changes in the collective bargaining agreement that may change the way teams are built in the NBA.
Still, it appears in Dallas' best interest to retain Irving. Without him, the Mavs enter the darkest of all timelines.
But with Irving, no one will know until it happens. He is a star that holds his cards close to his chest. And the Mavs knew what they were signing up for when they traded for him a few months ago. Until then, the Mavs are in limbo, forced to bend to the wills of one of the league's most gifted offensive players, despite his presence not yielding winning rewards this season.
