All-Star Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving acknowledged that things have not gone smoothly since he arrived in Dallas last month and teamed up with fellow All-Star guard Luka Doncic, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“I think that now, again, just where we are in the season, and where other teams are positioned already, it kind of looks like a bit of a clusterf—, to be honest with you,” Irving said. “Because we’re 37-40, and we’re trying to fight to get into the play-in game. It’s not the expectations I don’t think any of us had in that locker room.”
The team has gone 6-14 across its last 20 games and is currently on the outside of the Western Conference looking in, as the No. 11 seed.
“I just have to be at peace with where I am and which I am, and trust of the guys that I’m going to be in that war room with every single day,” Irving said. “So, I’m appreciative of them giving me the opportunity. It’s been nothing but great here. And I’ve been at peace.”
There’s more out of the Southwest Division:
- The Mavericks‘ most recent loss, a 116-108 defeat Wednesday against the Sixers, could help accelerate the end of the burgeoning on-court partnership of Doncic and Irving, writes Tim Cato of The Athletic. The team has just five games left and is currently one game behind the West’s tenth-seeded Thunder. As Cato notes, Irving could leave in free agency, which would be an indictment of the Mavericks’ team-building, coaching, and extant personnel.
- Grizzlies reserve guard Luke Kennard may not have been the buzziest trade deadline roster addition, but he could be a crucial X-factor for Memphis in the playoffs, opines Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
- Like every other tanking team this season, the rebuilding 18-59 Rockets are hoping to nab the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, almost certain to be high-upside prospect Victor Wembanyama. Kelly Iko of The Athletic takes a look at a variety of lottery selection scenarios for the Rockets, who are in position to claim – at worst – a top-six or -seven pick.
Kyrie will be lucky to get a deal elsewhere…
Can’t win with KD… Can’t win with Luka… And is constantly injured…
Time for him to accept a bench role so he can play more games and be more helpful to the team on the court…
Mark from Cuba will probably pay him to be a starter… Mark from Cuba will fail to build around Luka…
#FreeLuka
Give it up with the Kyrie hate…
Did he kiss your sister or something?
I hope OKC gets wemby
Don’t want the spurs, rockets, or hornets snatching him
I hope the Spurs get him. That’s the only team that I believe would help him develop and become the player we all know he can be. Plus Pop is awesome and deserves another player of this caliber.
It puts me at peace to know that Kyrie is at peace with being out of the playoffs. What a competitor!!
Kyrie will always play well enough to have a high salary. Beyond that, what’s so important ?
The rockets are a joke. Have no long term strategy in place. Until Tillman sells the team they will be a bottom feeder. Even if they get Victor he’ll just get flipped for a 2nd round pick and luxury tax savings
The most exciting prospect is if the Blazers get Wembanyama. Though it would be interesting to see the Wizards pair him with Porzingis in the frontcourt.