Breaking: Kyrie Irving Blast Dallas Front Office Over Luka Doncic Criticism
Kyrie Irving didn’t seem to approve of the Dallas Mavericks bashing fellow guard Luka Doncic.
After recently trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont bashed his work ethic in an interview with Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. Irving implied Dumont’s comments were out of line.
“Hopefully, we can tailor back on some of the public criticism aspects of it and really just maintain the kindness and the compassion that we have for each other that’s real every day, not just one moment or a sound bite that ends up being taken out of context,” Irving told ESPN’s Malika Andrews in an interview posted Wednesday. “That’s what I feel like is going on right now. People are highly emotional. I’m not one to shun anybody, whether in a public forum or behind the scenes and trying to not have that happen.”
Irving also indicated he wants to remain friends with Doncic.
“Part of our job every day is to deal with the public space, but there were real relationships that were built behind the scenes that will transcend just the basketball court,” Irving said. “I know that for my own peace of mind, just because we not only had two years together, but we got a chance to know each other as men.”
Irving indicated he’s still focused on leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals for a second straight season, even though that will be difficult.
The Mavericks (30-26) are eighth in the Western Conference. Center/forward Anthony Davis — whom Dallas acquired in the trade for Doncic — hasn’t played since Feb. 8 because of an abductor strain.
On Friday, the Mavericks return from the All-Star break at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Dallas must regain momentum, or Irving may wonder if he should consider playing elsewhere. He’s in the second year of a three-year, $120M deal, which includes a player option this offseason. If the franchise loses Irving, it would face even more backlash for the Doncic deal.
