‘I didn’t really care about media’: Kyrie Irving lambasts critics like Charles Barkley for making assumptions during absence from Nets team

Kyrie Irving gave a characteristically edgy statement during his first appearance in front of the Nets press in over 2 weeks since going AWOL. 

It has been a field day, or weeks, or months for Kyrie Irving haters. The Nets guard has continually provided fodder to ridicule him since the start of October. He first seemed to indicate that LeBron James, of all people, was not clutch, on a podcast appearance with Kevin Durant.

After that, he went on a self-imposed media silence on the pretext that the press twists his words. In doing so, he pompously called the media ‘pawns’ of a larger game. This was essentially him calling to be ethered by the likes of Charles Barkley, Stephen A Smith and Shannon Sharpe.

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Since Kyrie went AWOL, the Nets are sporting a completely different look. James Harden has arrived in Brooklyn, while Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince and Caris LeVert have been traded.

Kyrie Irving makes first statement to media since going on ‘leave for personal reasons’

It has been a while since we got to hear anything from Kyrie Irving. And the Nets guard did not disappoint those looking for juicy soundbites:

“There’s just so many assumptions about what’s going on. So many people feel like they know me best. They have no idea who I am, don’t know what I’m about.”

“When things become overwhelming in life, you just gotta take a step back and realize what’s important. I love to play – it’s never a question that I’ve been committing myself. This wasn’t even a thing for me – I didn’t really care about the media, didn’t care about the fans.”

Kyrie Irving provided insight on why he took a step away from the Nets. pic.twitter.com/9ML2XYlqLl

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 19, 2021

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It is safe to say that Irving will remain in our lives for a few more days in the same vainglorious spirit that he always carries with him. But the more drama he creates, the more that people follow the league.