Kyrie Irving still doesn’t really want to talk about his future.
Irving insisted on Instagram Live on Wednesday that he still isn’t ready to talk about his impending free-agency decision. That was his stance when he first landed in Dallas in February, and he’s still sticking to it after the Mavericks’ season ended.
But it’s not that Irving doesn’t want to talk about free agency. He wants fans to leave him alone about that too.
“Stop mentioning me on Twitter,” Irving said. via The Dallas Morning News, “All you fan base, stop mentioning me right now. Please… can you please leave me the f*** out of this? Please can I be with my family in peace? At my dinner table you People discussed what my free agency plans are. Stop it. You all think this is funny***, but please stop it.
Kyrie Irving ready for free agency
Irving was traded to the Mavericks after his controversial run with the Brooklyn Nets, where he missed a bulk of games during their COVID-19 vaccine saga and was suspended after promoting an antisemitic video on social media. was done.
Irving and the Mavericks struggled after arriving in Dallas. With Irving and star Luka Doncic both battling minor injuries, the Mavericks – who were once fourth in the Western Conference standings – missed the playoffs entirely.
Irving is eligible for a four-year deal worth $220.6 million in free agency this summer. If he signs with the Mavericks, he is eligible for a deal worth up to $272 million over five years. Despite the struggles, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban stated in April that retaining Irving was the team’s top priority this season.
However, Irving has long declined to talk about his future. In doing so, he said in February that asking fans and others to stop bringing it up would “distract undue attention to us and our team.”
While free-agency talks don’t begin until June 30, rumors resurfaced in recent days after Irving sat on the court for two Los Angeles Lakers playoff games. Naturally, this brought up a possible reunion with Irving and LeBron James, who won titles together in Cleveland.
But, at least for the next month, fans have got to “chill.”
“I’m a free agent this summer, but I’m in no rush to make a decision,” Irving said. via The Dallas Morning News, “TV personalities, sports people who try to mix sport with politics and lifestyle and that kind of thing – when they speak my name and they’re talking about potential teams that I’m going to be – Would you please, out of respect I’m asking, please stop obsessing over that?
“I am in no rush to make a decision. I know what lies ahead of me in terms of the rest of my career.
