In the 2019-20 Brooklyn season opener, Kyrie Irving scored 50 points, but the Nets were unable to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime. Fast forward to Tuesday night, the opener of the 2020-21 NBA season, and Irving was once again Brooklyn ‘s top winner, but the outcome was quite different – the Nets’ offense was so effective that he and Kevin Durant played the second of the fourth quarter and the team still finished with 125 points and the win.
“Getting here and being able to master this craft is a long journey and learning that this is not just about ‘hero’ basketball. It’s about how good the team is, ”Irving told reporters after their win. “I’ve caught that in my career a few times, just trying to play ‘hero’ basketball, where the success of the team is really going to prove how good you are. individual and how well you play.
“At the moment, I like that, and I accept it, without talking too much. It’s just about the actions. Let’s go out there and throw the ball in the air, and we’ll see who’s the best. I’m here to prove that every night with a great team by my side. It gives me confidence. We look forward to that challenge of just letting our game talk and letting everyone else speak out. ”
Irving further developed what he meant by “basketball hero,” and how his goals have changed since he joined the NBA.
“It’s just the right time, the right setting, the right environment,” he said. “As a young player, you think scoring a handful of points, doing a handful of things, getting a handful of rewards. I was definitely going after those things, and now, I don’t worry too much about any of those individual rewards or goals. It won’t bother me.
“I’m culturally proven, that’s what’s important. I don’t need an all-NBA, I don’t need the MVP. I just want the tree with a great team that I can look back on in history and say, ‘We made our way, and we had fun doing it. ‘I’m in Year 10. All I want to do is enjoy every day playing basketball and coming into work. ”
Irving and the Nets get back to him on Christmas Day when they visit the old point guard team, the Boston Celtics.