Kyrie Irving. Image via: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
After a 125-122 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, the nine-time All-Star guard called the speculation a distraction. He scored 35 points, including seven three-pointers, and lifted Dallas to 7-4 on the season.
Irving said he told teammates directly to keep it out of the locker room. Kyrie Irving has addressed the trade talk around the Dallas Mavericks, and his message was direct. The trade buzz has not slowed down. Teams keep asking about Irving, and Dallas keeps saying no. The locker room sits in the middle of it.
Cooper Flagg matched the energy with a season-best 43 points and 10 rebounds. Flagg and Irving scored 26 points between them in the fourth quarter. Dallas’ P.J. Washington Jr. missed two free throws late, but Caleb Martin broke up Indiana’s last pass.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported several teams are watching the situation, with the Miami Heat among them if Dallas ever changes course.
“Some of the trade rumors that continue to circle around our team or circle me, just distractions,” he said. “And … I let the team know out of my own mouth that these trade rumors, anything that’s going on with me, do not let this infiltrate our locker room,” Irving said. “I think we’re smart about our motivation and what motivates us in the locker room,” Irving said, before adding a plain instruction: “Don’t let this get in the way of what we have building here. The Mavericks began telling interested teams in June Irving was not available, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Dallas has kept rejecting calls since, and Stein said the club does not even want to “field your call.
Irving did not dodge the question after the win over Indiana. He then explained what he did about it. He also tied the message to the team’s start.