Kyrie Irving’s Suspension Adds to Brooklyn’s Woes
The Brooklyn Nets started the 2022-2023 NBA season with a 2-6 record. That disastrous start led to a “mutual” parting of ways between the team and former coach Steve Nash. Then, rumours began circulating on social media that the Nets are leaning towards hiring another head coach who is currently suspended with his team in Ime Udoka.
Not to mention Ben Simmons is injured. Again. It seems Brooklyn’s problems run limitless nowadays.
Kyrie Irving Suspended
NBA fans know two versions of Kyrie Irving. The first version would be the player he is on the court: an awe to the eyes of spectators and a problem to the defenders and their ankles. The other version would be Irving’s often controversial off the court-persona which included not playing due to vaccination requirements, flat earth rants, and most recently his quasi-endorsement of an anti-semetic film.
The Nets gave Iriving multiple chances to address his views, including making him available to the media but to no avail. This caused various NBA personalities to call for the suspension of Irving, a call the Nets ultimately answered.
In a statement released this week, the Nets announced Kyrie Irving has been suspended for five games without pay.
“We are of the view that he (Irving) is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.” a part of the Nets’ statement said.
Five games without your star point guard is a long period, especially for a team struggling to get out of the gates like Brooklyn currently is. Irving is averaging 26.9 points, 5.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks thus far.
He’s also leading the team in minutes per game (38.6).
What Now?
The Nets fell to 2-6 after a recent loss to the Chicago Bulls following Steve Nash’s departure from Brooklyn. And with the suspension of Kyrie Irving for five games and possibly more, this could mean more problems for interim Coach Jaque Vaughn and company.
Against the Bulls, Kyrie Irving finished with four points on two for 12 shooting from the field in 33 minutes.
The suspension of Irving means one thing: Kevin Durant has to do more. Mind you, this isn’t the first time Durant has had to contend with playing solo for the Nets. The duo only played together in 17 games total in 2021-22.
Kevin Durant is averaging 32.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, one steal, and two blocks in 37.8 minutes per game. Now, without Simmons and Irving, the primary ball handling responsibilities will now go to Durant.
In 38 games last season without Irving, Kevin Durant, a two-time Finals MVP, averaged 30 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Overall, Kevin Durant went 32-14 with the Nets in the games he played without Kyrie Irving.
While Durant has proven he can fly solo and do everything for Brooklyn, history has also shown he can’t do it alone. He needs help and he needs it quickly.
With Irving suspended, Patty Mills would likely take the starting point guard role for the time being. Seth Curry can also step in but he’s currently listed as day-to-day.
TJ Warren is still out and there’s no indication as to when Ben Simmons may return.
As painful as it is to say, the Nets have to rely solely on Kevin Durant until such time when Kyrie Irving sorts things out.
-Iggy Gonzales
Photo: Erik Drost. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.