Kyrie Irving Feared Being Traded Or Released Last Season

Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets, NBA Trade Rumors
NBA Analysis Network

Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving had a roller coaster of a 2021-22 NBA season. He recently opened up about how he was feeling during what can only be described as one of the most polarizing seasons that a player in the NBA has ever had.

Irving was deemed ineligible for home games at the start of the season because of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that was in place in New York City. Unwavering in his stance on the vaccine, Irving remained unvaccinated, so he couldn’t play in games at Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden.

Not wanting to cause any distractions, the Nets decided that Irving wouldn’t play at all, keeping him at home until he was eligible full-time. He missed the first 35 games of the season before the organization changed course, allowing Irving to come back as a part-time player.

Irving’s first game of the season was on January 5th on the road against the Indiana Pacers. He would play in only road games until late March when the mandates were changed and he was eligible to play in games at Barclays Center. March 27th was the first home game that he played during the season.

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Making an appearance on “The ETCs With Kevin Durant” podcast, Kyrie Irving opened up about how difficult it was being away from the team. He had anxiety about what would be next in his career, as he was unsure what his basketball future held.

“There was nothing to lose, you know?” Irving said of his return. “It was only the journey to enjoy at that point, because I was sitting at home and — I don’t even want to say sitting at home, I was wondering at home what my future was going to look like, you know? Whether I was going to be traded, whether I was going to be released, whether I was going to get the opportunity to be on another team, how I was going to spin this for myself in a positive way.”

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Irving has a right to make the decisions that he did, but all decisions come with consequences or repercussions. His decision to remain vaccinated played an integral part in the Big 3 in Brooklyn breaking up, as James Harden soured on the situation rather quickly.

Appearing in only 29 games certainly played into the team finishing in seventh place and having to win the NBA Play-In Tournament to make the postseason field. The Brooklyn Nets were then swept 4-0 by the Boston Celtics in the first round.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: These 3 Teams Should Monitor Trade For Nets’ Superstar Kyrie Irving

Heading into the offseason, Kyrie Irving could now be looking at a nearly $250 million payday. If he declines his player option for the 2022-23 season, Irving is eligible for a five-year, $245.6 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets. His decision to not get vaccinated may have ultimately cost the team, but he will be fine personally cashing in on another lucrative deal to remain in Brooklyn.

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