Very few athletes have ever been as unpredictable as Kyrie Irving. He’s always been a bit of a wild card.
The Nets star guard created an earthquake among the NBA world last week when it was reported that he and Brooklyn’s front office were at an “impasse” that could “clear the way for him to test the open marketplace.” Irving even had a list of teams he would consider in sign-and-trade scenarios, with the Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, Mavericks and 76ers all being mentioned.
That led to a report that his star teammate, Kevin Durant, was “considering options with his future” if Irving left Brooklyn, sending NBA stakeholders into a frenzy.
On Monday, just days ahead of free agency, those rumors seemingly began to materialize when reports indicated Irving had requested and received approval from the Nets’ front office to seek sign-and-trade scenarios, offering him a chance to move on. His departure became even more likely when it was reported that he would consider opting out of his contract completely and had a willingness to take less money to sign with the Lakers.
And just hours later, all of that chaos appears to be for nothing when The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Irving will opt into the final year of his contract to remain in Brooklyn.
How did Irving land on this decision? Here’s everything we know below.