Kyrie Speaks Out on Durant’s Commitment Claims
Kyrie Irving has finally broken his silence after Kevin Durant suggested that he and James Harden lacked full commitment during their time with the Brooklyn Nets. On the “Mind the Game” podcast, Durant recalled how he and then-coach Steve Nash felt like they were the only ones truly “committed,” calling the situation “weird.”
Irving, never one to stay quiet for long, promised fans on July 16 that he’d address the issue. And he delivered on his Twitch stream on July 22. His response was layered with self-awareness and some surprising clarity.
“I was like, ‘Okay,’” Irving said, referring to his initial reaction. “We’re all committed to the goal at the end of the day. But sometimes not everybody’s going to follow what you want them to do.” He added, “I’ve had to accept that… not everybody’s going to be committed the way you want them to be committed.”
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Vaccine Mandate, Trade Request & Moving On
Kyrie didn’t shy away from acknowledging that his own commitment to the Nets was complicated. One of the biggest factors? The COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which led to his suspension and significantly disrupted the team’s chemistry.
“I even told the Nets to release me,” Irving admitted, explaining that his situation became untenable. “Obviously, the money situation, different situation, I’m (expletive) Kyrie… but they weren’t just going to let me rock out.”
Eventually, Kyrie was traded to the Dallas Mavericks before the 2023 NBA trade deadline, marking the end of an era that had so much promise, but never delivered.
“Me and KD Are Not Beefing”
Despite the media frenzy, Irving made it very clear: there’s no bad blood between him and Durant, or even with Steve Nash.
“Me and KD are not beefing,” Irving emphasized. “I’m not beefing with Steve Nash. I’m not beefing with anybody, you guys.”
In fact, Kyrie went on to praise his time with Durant, calling their partnership dubbed the “7/11 duo”, unforgettable.
“That duo of me and KD will never be topped in terms of just being on the court with somebody that special,” he said. “Playing with KD… one of the best of all time.”
As Irving recovers from a torn ACL and looks ahead to an uncertain 2025-26 season, Durant continues his push for a third NBA title with the rising Houston Rockets. But one thing is now certain: despite the drama, the respect between Kyrie and KD runs deep.
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