Kyrie Irving voiced his thoughts on players requesting trades Saturday as the Mavericks star continues to face scrutiny for demanding to be dealt by the Nets just before the trade deadline.
Speaking with reporters during NBA All-Star Media Day, Irving dismissed the notion that players should be forced to stick with a team if they don’t see eye-to-eye with the organization. The eight-time All-Star and 2022 starter requested a trade from Brooklyn on Feb. 3 after talks of an extension broke down, marking yet another quarrel in a heated saga between both parties that finally culminated in a blockbuster deal with Dallas on Feb. 5.
“What’s a bad situation and why doesn’t anybody have the ability to ask for trades? That’s my question,” Irving said. “When did it become terrible to make great business decisions for yourself and your happiness and your peace of mind? Not every employer you’re gonna get along with so if you have a chance to go somewhere else and you’re doing it legally then I don’t think there’s a problem with it.”
