- Kyle will stay with the Nets for the next season.
- He played 103 games for the Nets in the past three seasons.
- The Nets traded James for Ben with the 76ers.
The Athletic announced on Monday that Brooklyn star guard Kyrie Irving will activate a $37 million player option to remain with the NBA Nets for the upcoming season.
This announcement comes two days before the deadline for the 30-year-old American to decide whether or not to honor his four-year deal with the Nets and superstar power player Kevin Durant.
“Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different lead us into tomorrow. I’ve made my decision to opt-in. See you in the fall,” Irving told The Athletic.
According to the source, Irving is forgoing opt-in and trade options in order to remain with Brooklyn and Durant in an effort to create an NBA championship contender.
Irving has participated in only 103 games for the Nets over the past three seasons owing to a variety of injuries and obstacles, such as not getting vaccinated against Covid-19 and being forbidden from participating in home games by New York safety regulations.
Even with two superstars, the Nets were a disappointment last year, finishing with a 44-38 record and getting swept by Boston in the opening round of the playoffs. Last season, in the second round, Brooklyn lost to eventual champion Milwaukee.
Irving averaged 27.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 29 games with the Nets during the previous season.
In three seasons with Brooklyn, Irving has averaged 27.1% points and 6.0% assists.
At the conclusion of last season, the Nets traded star guard James Harden to the 76ers for Australian wonder Ben Simmons. If Simmons rebounds to his previous level of play following back surgery, Brooklyn’s fortunes could improve in the upcoming season.
Durant desired to learn Irving’s intentions prior to committing to his own long-term goals.
Since 2003, when they were based in New Jersey and fell to San Antonio in the NBA Finals, the Nets have not moved past the second round of the NBA playoffs.
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