Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving recently reflected on his time with Kevin Durant during their Brooklyn Nets days, speaking openly on his Twitch stream Tuesday.
The Nets had sky-high expectations after forming a superstar trio of Irving, Durant, and James Harden. But things didn’t go as planned.
Plagued by injuries and controversy, Kyrie only appeared in 143 games over four seasons. His decision to remain unvaccinated during the COVID-19 pandemic led to further complications, with the team sidelining him for long stretches.
Despite his fallout with the Nets organization, Irving made it clear that playing alongside Durant was a special chapter in his career.
“The ‘7/11’ duo of me and (Kevin Durant) will never be topped in terms of being on the court with somebody that special, right? So let me get that disclaimer, alright? I’ve played with a lot of great players, but playing with KD, he’s one of the best of all-time,” said Irving.
The two bonded during their time with Team USA and officially teamed up in Brooklyn in 2019. Their on-court pairing — named “7/11” for their jersey numbers — was full of promise but yielded little team success. Kyrie also confirmed past reports that Durant played a role in the dismissal of head coach Steve Nash.
In 2023, Irving requested a trade and was dealt to the Mavericks in a deal that included Markieff Morris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and multiple picks. Soon after, Durant was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster move involving ten players and future assets.
Since landing in Dallas, Kyrie has regained his form and helped lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in his first full season. Despite currently recovering from an ACL injury, he recently signed a three-year extension with the team, securing his future in the Lone Star State.
