Kyrie Irving isn’t holding any resentment toward Mavericks GM Nico Harrison or head coach Jason Kidd for the trade of Luka Dončić. Irving, who had been the secondary ball handler behind Dončić, now finds himself taking on primary scoring and playmaking duties, especially with the addition of new players like Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and Caleb Martin.
Despite the backlash faced by Harrison and Kidd for the trade, Irving defended them, expressing satisfaction with the decision. He said, “My goals are set in stone. I’ve let everybody around me know what my goals are to create a better environment for me… When you have Kidd and Nico doing their things behind the scenes, making sure we’re a good group personality-wise, it makes my job a lot easier to go out and lead this group.”
Many fans have speculated that Irving was involved in pushing for Dončić’s trade, but given that Dončić still follows Irving on social media, it seems the two don’t hold any ill feelings. It’s also worth noting that Irving, a free agent in the summer, likely understands the reality of the situation—if Dončić was traded, his own future with the team isn’t guaranteed either.
Irving also shared his surprise and grief over the trade, saying, “Just really shocked and you just don’t imagine you’re going to get ready to go to sleep and then you find out news like that. It’s still a grieving process right now. I miss my hermano.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future with key acquisitions injured, Mavericks fans are now looking to Irving to lead the team. With Davis sidelined, the team’s outlook for this season depends heavily on how well Irving can adjust to his new role and guide the team forward.
