With the NBA season just around the corner, the Brooklyn Nets have made a decision. They don't want Kyrie Irving to be a distraction or a part-time player, meaning that they won't allow him to practice or partake in team activities for the time being.
"Everyone had their say. It takes time to make decisions like that," coach Steve Nash said. This is a difficult decision. But I think it was a sound one and one that makes complete sense to everyone. We are just going to move on, and if things change, it would be incredible to have him back in the fold. It was a tenuous situation to have a player in and out like that. (...) We weren't sure from one day to the next what was going to change or what was going to happen. That can be difficult, and that can put an extra strain on everybody."
But given Kyrie's recent rant on Instagram Live and the bizarre nature of this story, reporters continued to push Nash to address the situation. Needless to say, the Canadian coach wasn't exactly happy about that.
Steve Nash Says He Didn't Listen To Kyrie Irving's IG Live Rant And Doesn't Want To Talk About Him
"I didn't really listen to it. And I think I've pretty much said everything I have to say about it. If something changes, we can talk about it; but I really want to focus on moving forward and our group and solutions to the challenge ahead of us," Nash said.
Nash Says The Nets Will Be Fluid With Lineups
The second-year coach also said that the Nets will be more fluid with lineups now that Kyrie won't be available. That doesn't come as a surprise given how many combinations they tested last season:
“I think like last year, we will be adaptive and be able to go in different directions. I haven’t made any firm decisions. I also don’t know [that] there will be any firm decisions. I think it’s something that’s kind of fluid for us unless something emerges that makes the most sense. But right now, we look at our depth, and we need to continue to produce from all those different options and find the combinations that work for us and find the combinations that work for different matchups,” he said.
The Brooklyn Nets are still one of the clear-cut favorites to win the NBA championship, even without Kyrie. Now, the ball's on his court and he'll have a decision to make if he wants to be back in the hardwood.
