Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Phoenix Suns at Dallas Mavericks
Another day, another Kyrie story.
Per head coach Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving missed practice due to “personal reasons” but he added that “hopefully he can join us in Memphis.”
This absence comes after his rant online about his reputation as a “locker room cancer” following a Mavs loss.
“‘What’s Ky gonna do this summer? Does Ky like Dallas? What happened in Brooklyn? What happened in Boston? What happened in Cleveland? Why did you leave LeBron [James]? Why did you leave Jayson [Tatum]? Why did you leave KD [Kevin Durant]? Why did you leave all these people?’” Irving pontificated, asserting that basketball isn’t an individual sport.
The rant also covered his disdain for sports betting that came to the forefront after his exchange with a fan about it during a game.
“Gambling and sports betting has completely taken the purity away and the fun away from the game at times,” Irving said. “I’m gonna just be honest with y’all. Work is work, but the support around it can be distracting.
If the rant is why Irving missed practice, nobody else would know. But perhaps he needed to step away and take some time for himself after letting that off his chest.
