Kyrie Irving can put us in a position to win the championship – Jason Kidd
Head coach Kidd says Irving is 'All about basketball' as the former Boston Celtics man completes move to Dallas Mavericks
Kyrie Irving’s move to the Dallas Mavericks can make them NBA Championship challengers, says Dallas coach Jason Kidd.
The 30-year-old point guard’s trade from the Brooklyn Nets was confirmed on Monday after he failed to agree a new contract.
Irving and Markieff Morris were traded for Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.
“We feel that the talent and his abilities to make us better are something that we needed,” said Kidd.
“Getting him is going to help put us in a position to win a championship.
“You look at his journey at other stops – he’s won where he’s gone.”
Irving, who was selected as the First overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, won the NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and is an eight-time NBA All-Star, but he has endured off-court issues during 3½ years at the Nets.
His decision not to be vaccinated against Covid-19 meant he could not play any home games until March of the 2021-22 season because of New York’s ban on unvaccinated people in indoor venues.
In November he was suspended for eight games and apologised after posting a social media link to a film with anti-Semitic material.
“It’s easy to look at all the talk of the negative, but let’s look at the positive of what he’s done on and off the court. That’s the way we’re approaching it,” said Kidd.
“He’s all about basketball. He wants to win and he wants to be coached, and this is a great opportunity for me to have someone like this to help.”
Kidd said the pairing of Irving with fellow All-Star in Slovenian’s Luka Doncic – who is currently sidelined with a heel injury – can make a difference to a side who are fifth in the Western Conference with a 29-26 record.
The Nets will also reportedly receive a future first-round Draft pick(2027) and two second-round selections(2029) from Dallas.
Irving, who was linked with the LA Clippers, LA Lakers and Phoenix Suns, is expected to join his Mavericks team-mates for practice on Tuesday in Los Angeles and make is expected to make his debut against the Clippers on Wednesday.
