Newly added Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving had his first practice with the team Tuesday ahead of his debut Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
After being officially acquired by the team on Monday and flying to Dallas to undergo an official physical that completed the trade, Irving joined his new teammates and met with media members after the practice.
“I’m super excited and grateful for the opportunity,” Irving said in a press conference when asked about the trade. “I really feel wanted, and I know they had to give up some pieces for me to get here, so I don’t take that for granted.”
“I’ve been here for about 48 hours, or a little bit more than that, and it’s been nothing but a warm embrace and nothing but genuine love,” he continued. “So, I’m just taking it one minute at a time and just focusing on what I can control, which is how I prepare, and just come in every day and be consistent.”
After the trade was announced, many had comments about Irving’s impact on the teams he has played for, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, who compared him to a hypothetical disgruntled city hall employee.
“I would find the team that beats us the most and send him to that team because we would start beating that team,” Adams added as he appeared on Spectrum News NY1.
The addition of Irving has caused some to question whether his playing style fits in the same backcourt as Luka Doncic, as both players are known as ball-dominant guards.
“You want to put these guys in a position to be successful,” head coach Jason Kidd told reporters after practice. “Those two will work to find their relationship and their rhythm. That takes time, but I don’t think it will take as long as people think.”
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green pointed out the benefits of having Irving and Doncic playing together and what that could mean for the Western Conference earlier this week on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show.
“You got two of the best offensive talents in the NBA on the same team,” Green said. “I don’t love it. The reason I don’t love it? It’s hard to stop; very hard to stop.”
“Kyrie Irving is one of the best scorers we’ve seen,” Green continued. “One of the best, if not THE best, ball-handler we’ve seen. Tough shot taker, tough shot maker. Kyrie Irving also can spot shoot. That’s what makes it interesting.”
Green also observed the quick timeline of events involved in the trade, as Golden State had played the Mavericks the night before the news broke, and both Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie played in that game.
“[If] he gets hurt, it blows the whole trade up,” he said of both players while speculating that the trade could not have been in discussion at the time.
“Gotta credit [Mavs GM] Nico Harrison for having the guts to pull the trigger like that,” Green added. “Like, he didn’t have much time to think. He pulled the trigger.”
“I respect that from Nico,” he continued. “You know why I respect that? Because this is a ‘What have you done for me lately?’ league and GMs and coaches are the first to go.”
Green also mentioned that the trade finally addresses replacing Jalen Brunson, a key member of last year’s team who left in free agency.
“You’re essentially replacing Jalen Brunson with Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson’s good, but Kyrie Irving’s Kyrie Irving,” Green concluded.
Irving debuts against the Clippers Wednesday night at 9 p.m. CT in a nationally televised game on ESPN.