CLOSING TIME
Kevin Durant (8.4), James Harden (8.3) and Kyrie Irving (8.2) are first, second and third in the league in fourth-quarter scoring this season. Next-highest: 7.3 points (Beal and Lillard).
Since quarter stats were first tracked (1996-97), the highest fourth-quarter ppg a Net has ever posted was 7.3 fourth-quarter ppg for Vince Carter in 2005-06.
Its safe to say Kyrie Irving isn’t please with his current situation with the Brooklyn Nets. The star point guard has missed a week’s worth of games following the riots in Washington D.C. But apparently, Irving has more issues than that, as he’s sat out the last four games without any indication of when he […]
NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving ‘Furious’ With Nets’ Current Situation — NESN.com
Damian Lillard said what needed to be said. Kyrie Irving last week boycotted Brooklyn Nets Media Day, instead providing a statement on his desire to not have his words pass through allegedly illegitimate filters. The ever-opinionated guard attempted to clarify himself Friday, but in doing so came off even worse. That brings us to Saturday […]
Damian Lillard Posts Necessary Comment During Kyrie Irving Instagram Live — NESN.com
Sign In Kyrie Irving addressed the media Friday, just not in person. The Nets star issued a statement Friday via a spokesperson as Brooklyn’s training camp starts up. Irving only played a portion of the 2019-20 season thanks to a shoulder injury, but is expected to play with star forward Kevin Durant for the first…
Kyrie Irving Skips Nets’ Media Obligation, Issues Vague Statement Instead — NESN.com
The Kyrie Irving experience, folks.
Kyrie Irving said Kevin Durant is the first teammate he trusts in the clutch and NBA fans lost it — For The Win
Kevin Durant believes Kyrie Irving’s sharp tongue sometimes puts him at odds with the masses. The Brooklyn Nets superstar claimed Wednesday during his appearance on the ELITE Media Group’s “Play For Keeps” podcast his teammate has become a lightning rod for criticism because he tells it like it is, regardless of the consequences. Fans and…
Kevin Durant Has Theory About Why Kyrie Irving Receives So Much Criticism — NESN.com
Kyrie Irving isn’t about to allow WNBA players to go unpaid for opting out of the league’s abbreviated 2020 season. The Brooklyn Nets star pledged $1.5 million to help pay WNBA players that have chosen to sit out the season, whether its due to social justice or COVID-19, the Associated Press reported Monday. Irving has…
Kyrie Irving To Donate $1.5M To Pay WNBA Players Who Opted Out Of Season — NESN.com
Two former members of the Boston Celtics have joined forces to give a voice to players with concerns about the NBA’s return-to-play plan. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving and Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley have created a coalition to give players a way to voice their concerns about resuming play without fear of retribution,…
Ex-Celtics Create Coalition To Voice Concerns Over NBA’s Return To Play — NESN.com
Kyrie Irving apparently isn’t on board with the idea of restarting the NBA season, believing it will divert attention from the protests against police brutality and racial inequality dominating the national conversation. But a few players disagree. LeBron James reportedly thinks he can play basketball again while simultaneously inspiring societal change, and Houston Rockets guard…
Rockets’ Austin Rivers Counters Kyrie Irving’s Argument Against Restarting NBA — NESN.com
Kyrie Irving apparently isn’t on board with the idea of restarting the NBA season, believing it will divert attention from the protests against police brutality and racial inequality dominating the national conversation. But a few players disagree. LeBron James reportedly thinks he can play basketball again while simultaneously inspiring societal change, and Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers also had a counterargument against Irving. Rivers made the point that the NBA coming back puts money in players’ pockets, which they could then turn around and donate to the Black Lives Matter movement. Not to mention, Rivers brought up that, “99 percent of the NBA hasn’t made the money a guy like Kyrie has,” and those players need that money. “NBA basketball is predominately African American … and a lot of our audience is too,” Rivers’ said Saturday on Instagram, via ESPN. “Us providing entertainment and hope for kids is important. Also keeping SOME kids indoors and watching basketball games on TV instead of maybe going out and getting into trouble, (due to the unfair and unequal environments a lot of African American kids are placed in) is important too. “NOT saying basketball is a cure for that but basketball can maybe provide a distraction.” Austin Rivers responds to Kyrie Irving being opposed to resuming the NBA season in Orlando. pic.twitter.com/D7A7jbpUE2 — ESPN (@espn) June 13, 2020 Rivers also made note of the ramifications of not playing this year and how it will impact the CBA, money from television networks and a number of other economical factors. “I love Kyrie’s passion towards helping this movement,” Rivers said. “It’s admirable and inspiring. I’m with it … but in the right way and not at the cost of the whole NBA and players careers. We can do it both. We can play and we can help change the way black lives are lived.”
Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/06/rockets-austin-rivers-counters-kyrie-irvings-argument-against-restarting-nba/
Social justice issues and how the NBA restart impacts them was a big part of the call.
Kyrie Irving on NBA restart: “I don’t support going into Orlando” — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
It’s not exactly the 11th hour but as the long days night that is the NBA’s attempts to return in conjunction with the Player’s Association, as well as Disney World and their employee’s union, an important figure on the player’s side as emerged as a voice of resistance among the players on whether players should return to play at all given the current backdrop of racial unrest in the country.
Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reported, along with Howard Beck and Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report, that Irving is a force behind organizing a call among the players scheduled for later on Friday.
As @TaylorRooks, @HowardBeck reports, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has organized a call tonight for players to discuss what position they should take. He’s of mindset that during racial tension, not returning to play should be considered, sources say. https://t.co/8W8VaZMxQh
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 12, 2020
Obviously, the previous dramas of Kyrie Irving and LeBron James cannot be escaped here. Irving and his Nets superstar teammate Kevin Durant, according to reports, will not be with their team on the Nets, but their concerns are bigger than just the competition and more about their concerns of playing amid the current social climate. LeBron James has been as vocal as anyone about the current state of the country, police brutality against Black people, and voter suppression, but he is one of many superstar players, including the union president Chris Paul, who appears intent on playing.
However, players and teams have differing concerns, including everything from the current social unrest to the restrictiveness of the NBA’s campus environment, as well as general concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
When the NBA went on hiatus, Jacque Vaughn was the interim head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. But that may not last past 2019-20.
Report: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving want a ‘big name’ at head coach — Nets Wire
The view from left field 