Kyrie Irving’s best quotes since the Nets announced his return

Brooklyn </a>Nets made their decision to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/03/kyrie-irving-nets-quotes/"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32891013/sources-brooklyn-nets-bring-back-kyrie-irving-road-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bring Irving back as a part-time player.</a></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/03/kyrie-irving-nets-quotes/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The support of the team </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_440101" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-440101 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/03/kyrie-irving-nets-quotes/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2196,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1344824728.jpeg" alt="Work, stated, ramp, conditioning, media." width="3200" height="2196" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1344824728.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1344824728-768x527.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 03: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets follows the action from the bench during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on October 3, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Kyrie Irving’s best quotes since the Nets announced his return: Constant support</h2> <p>Before Irving could return, Head Coach Steve Nash stated that his guard would need at least a week or two to ramp up his conditioning. He recently spoke to the media about his thought process while being away from the Nets.</p> <blockquote><p>“Incredibly grateful,” said Uncle Drew. “Just to be back in the building, welcomed back with open-arms from my teammates and the whole entire organization.”</p></blockquote> <p>Irving made it known that it has been very difficult being away from the game, especially with all the controversy going on about him.</p> <blockquote><p>“Not going to lie it has been relatively tough to watch from the sideline with everything going on in the world, I know everybody is feeling it, so, just praying for everybody to be healthy during these times, but if i get the opportunity to get on the court and play with some of my teammates, even if it is just on the road for away games, just grateful for the opportunity.”</p></blockquote> <p>The 29-year-old continued to share his thought process.</p> <blockquote><p>“It was just a lot of uncertainty, a lot of what-ifs, a lot of scenarios, it is hard not to pay attention to what is being said about the circumstances that we are under and everybody’s opinion on it,” he said. “I just kind of just try to stay grounded, stay connected with the team, engaged and just waiting for the time or the chance. I respected their decision.”</p></blockquote> <p>Irving was honest about not going through any NBA workouts, but he did his best to stay in the best shape he could have.</p> <blockquote><p>“I am thankful for everybody that helped me stay in shape during the time, playing in middle school gyms, playing in some college gyms, trying to keep things as private as possible but, also just with the intent to get the most that I can out of these pick-up games,” he said. “It was tough and I was resilient, but it is nothing like being in this environment and playing with the best of the best.”</p></blockquote> <p>In opposing buildings last season, Irving was completely dominant, to say the least. The New Jersey native averaged 28 points, six assists, and four rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the field and 41 percent from the outside.</p> <p>In his career, he has put up 22 and five assists shooting almost 46 percent in away games.</p> <p>Recently, his good friend Kevin Durant was asked why he is so confident that Brooklyn can make Irving’s situation work.</p> <blockquote><p>“Have you watched him play? He is a master,” Durant said. “He can score 60 percent, 70% of his shots if you do not guard him. He is a high-IQ player, so, it is just a matter of him getting his legs up under him, his wind up under him and for us, we are going to run plays for him, we are going to try to look for him, we play team basketball. He can adapt through anything out there so we do not worry about him.”</p></blockquote> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/03/kyrie-irving-nets-quotes/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A misunderstood superstar </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_440015" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-440015 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/03/kyrie-irving-nets-quotes/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1151,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1324459114.jpeg" alt="Work, mandate, away, ramp, media." width="1600" height="1151" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324459114.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324459114-768x552.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 19: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets supports his teammates from the bench in the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks during game seven of the Eastern Conference second round at Barclays Center on June 19, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Kyrie Irving’s best quotes since the Nets announced his return: Misunderstood</h2> <p>The biggest message taken away from the Irving-vaccine saga could be the representation of the media’s misunderstanding of one of the most down-to-earth, heartfelt, and genuine individuals in all of sports.</p> <blockquote><p>“I just care about our world a lot and if I am going to be demonized for that, at least let me go out on my own accord,” he said. “This is not about me, this is not about me dispelling what is being said about me particularly or for anybody, it is just saying that I am standing with all those that believe in what is right and are doing what is right for themselves.”</p></blockquote> <p>Irving continued to paint the picture from a real-life perspective.</p> <blockquote><p>“Everybody is entitled to do what they feel is best for themselves and putting me as a hero or painting me as a villain sort of say, going against the vaccine mandates, that was not my intent at all,” he said. “It is about staying real and staying true to who you are and making the choice for you what is best. Everybody has their own family, everybody has their own tribe. Everybody has their own issues or trauma that they are dealing with trying to heal from and I am just trying to support as best as I can.”</p></blockquote> <p>You can tell Irving was upset with how long the narratives about him as a negative person and role model have been trending.</p> <blockquote><p>“I am a hooper, I have been a hooper since I was damn-near four years old and coming into the NBA, I just had a dream to play ball at a high-level,” Irving said. “I did not anticipate all this coming with it, but if I am going to be responsible for my own life, then I have to speak on things that truly matter to me.”</p></blockquote> <p>The 29-year-old brought in a point of view from an athlete’s perspective. Just because one may be portrayed a certain way or act a certain because of how things are made out to be does not mean a great personality should be forgotten about.</p> <blockquote><p>“Don’t believe that I am retiring, do not believe that I am going to give up this game for a vaccine mandate or staying unvaccinated, do not believe any of that man,” he said. “Really, be aware of what is being said before I get a chance to be on a podium and speak for myself. Pay attention to what is going on out in the real world.”</p></blockquote> <p>Irving’s first chance to suit up for Brooklyn will be on January 5 when the Nets visit the Indiana Pacers.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Can the Nets win a title if Kyrie Irving can’t play at home?" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/02/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-championship/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/03/kyrie-irving-nets-quotes/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/02/brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-championship/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Can the Nets win a title if Kyrie Irving can’t play at home? </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">