Kyrie Irving no love lost, ‘looking forward’ to see competition with new Sun Kevin Durant

Shortly after Kyrie Irving concluded his debut as a Dallas Maverick on Wednesday, the entire NBA was then trembled upon the news that Kevin Durant will be transferred by the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal.

This latest gigantic trade made both Irving and Durant now newfound enemies after 3 ½ years of their dramatic partnership in Brooklyn, with Dallas and Phoenix currently sharing intense rivalry in the Western Conference. 

But for the All-Star guard,  there’s still no love lost as they are slated to start a new journey apart with each other.

“It’s not the first time we’ll be in competition as brothers. I’m just praying for his happiness, praying for his well-being,” Irving said of Durant after churning 24 markers in his Mavericks debut win over L.A. Clippers. “We had a lot of conversations throughout the year on what our futures would look like. There’s still level of uncertainty.

“But we just cared about seeing each other, be in places that we can thrive. Whether be that together, whether be that apart.”

With head coach Jacque Vaughn, Brooklyn managed to survive on their hellish beginnings this season. From inconsistensies, Irving’s Twitter promotion of film filled with antisemitic tropes and Steve Nash’s resignation from his position, they deflected overwhelming negativities swirling around and fought their way up as much as the second-seed of the Eastern Conference.

But indeed, the world of Nets won’t stop turning upside down.

After failing to reach an extension with the Nets, the embattled Irving forced his way out of the Nets earlier this month and now finds himself as a Mavsman with Dallas trading away Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and a draft compensation as returns.

The said transaction served as the first domino to fall on the side for Brooklyn, as they eventually proceeded to ship away the 13-time All-Star to Phoenix for a lucrative package composed of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks and a pick swap.

Durant’s departure in Brooklyn officially closes the book of the franchise’s most miserable era headlined by failed championship aspirations. Having both the future hall of famer in their lineup in the past three seasons, added up by James Harden last 2020-21, the Nets failed to reach the promised land and was instead swarmed by notoriety and sheering disappointments.

As they have now chosen their respective direction from the crossroads they faced this midseason, Irving is nothing but ecstatic and excited to face Durant frequently in the West side.

“This business changes so quickly. He’s getting a little bit older, I’m getting a little bit older, I just love the competition now that we can be in the same conference,” Irving continued. “I welcome all that. Get to see him a little bit more, probably playing against Phoenix a lot more. That’s what I’m looking forward to. 

“Everything else and in between, I just, I’m glad that he got out of there.”

Irving is scheduled to take the floor with Durant as his opponent when the Suns visits the Mavs in Texas this Mar. 5.