Kyrie Irving avoids media, issues statement 'to ensure that my message is conveyed properly'
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving wanted nothing to do with the media Friday. Irving issued a statement saying he would rather let his actions speak for themselves this season.
Irving also said he avoided speaking with media Friday “to ensure that my message is conveyed properly.”
Kyrie Irving issued a statement that says, in part: “My goal this season is to let my work on and off the court speak for itself.”
He said he is issuing this statement instead of speaking with reporters. pic.twitter.com/ninUzAnhzC— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) December 4, 2020
The statement touches on a number of topics, including COVID-19 and Irving’s expectation for the Nets. Ultimately, Irving says his decision to issue a statement and not talk to the media was a result of life being different in 2020.
“Life hit differently this year,” Irving said. “And it requires us, it requires me, to move differently. So, this is the beginning of that change.”
Will Kyrie Irving speak to the media during the 2020-21 NBA season?
Irving doesn’t definitively say he won’t speak to the media at all during the 2020-21 NBA season, but it sure sounds like he’s trying to avoid it. If that’s the case, it would be a big disappointment and potentially could lead to fines from the NBA.
When healthy, Irving is a superstar-caliber player. The Nets are expected to be a much improved team with Irving and Kevin Durant both back to full health, and fans will want to hear Irving’s thoughts on the team’s performance.
While Irving’s concern about being misquoted is important, it also provides Irving a convenient excuse for not being asked difficult questions. If the team underperforms, Irving presumably wouldn’t comment on those struggles.
Those questions can be uncomfortable, but they are part of Irving’s job.
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