Kyrie Irving wants to make Brooklyn 'home' but 'ball is in the Nets' court' - New York Post
PHILADELPHIA — Just as they had this summer, Kyrie Irving's camp has reiterated his desire to stay in Brooklyn.
And the lack of a suitable offer from the Nets.
Irving wants a contract extension to stay with his hometown team, but productive talks haven't materialized, according to the All-Star point guard's agent.
"Around Kyrie and staying with the Nets? I have reached out to the Nets regarding this. We have had no significant conversations to date," Irving's agent/stepmother Shetellia Irving told Bleacher Report. "The desire is to make Brooklyn home, with the right type of extension, which means the ball is in the Nets' court to communicate now if their desire is the same."
There are all-important caveats there. The right type of extension, followed by a huge if.
After the Nets had given Irving permission to seek trade partners over the summer, the guard's camp told The Post that he was intent on returning to Brooklyn. He did so on a one-year option, and now is eligible for a four-year, $198 million contract, according to former Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks.
That, so far, has been hard to come by.
Irving had been eligible for a full five-year max contract two summers ago, but his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine saw talks break down and the offer pulled from the table. He missed two-thirds of the season due to his vaccine stance, and when talks last summer got testy, he flirted with opting out and leaving via unrestricted free agency before eventually opting in to the final $36 million year of his initial deal.
When Irving has played this season, he has been nothing short of stellar. He's on pace to not only make his eighth NBA All-Star game, but is the top vote getter among all Eastern Conference guards, averaging 26.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and five assists entering Wednesday's game at Philadelphia.
But the "when he has played" is a vital disclaimer. Irving did serve an eight-game suspension without pay for promoting an anti-Semitic movie, and the Nets may understandably be gun-shy about giving him a long-term extension.
"Well, I think a lot of the things that have happened throughout the season are in the rearview," Irving said after leading the Nets' come-from-behind victory at defending champion Golden State on Sunday.
"I haven't forgot about them but it's something that I don't prioritize as much because the team is most important here and am trying to prepare the best way I know how mentally, physically and emotionally. So I feel like we're past that as an organization and a team me individually stronger mentally."
The timing of the report is notable. Irving entered the Philadelphia game averaging 38.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists in his prior three appearances, the first time in his career he'd ever posted 30 points, five boards and five dimes in three consecutive games. His shooting splits of .526/.500/.905 over that span have been stellar.
"Overall, we've had some success when we've been able to space the floor, put the ball in Kai's hand, have the shooting around him," coach Jacque Vaughn said.
"He's been really good at picking his spots, understanding when we need him to take over the game, understanding how to be a decoy sometimes, how to be a screener. So different levels of the game that he's able to produce for us. And big buckets at the end of the game, whether it was getting fouled, rebound, just big plays. I think he loves that moment. And he's continued to show."
Irving has kept the Nets afloat in the wake of Kevin Durant's MCL injury.
"They're still pretty good though without [him]. Kyrie Irving I hear is pretty terrific," Sixers coach Doc Rivers said.
"Kyrie Irving is the head of that snake, same as if Kevin Durant was there it'd be him, too," 76ers big man Montrezl Harrell said. "We know the head of that engine is through Kyrie, and everything that they've been doing since KD has been out has been through Kyrie."
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