“If Giannis Antetokounmpo ain’t put his foot under [Kyrie Irving], they would’ve had a championship,” said Markieff Morris, who was playing for the Lakers at the time. “Milwaukee would still be without a championship. “I know so. They were going to get swept. They know that. You can ask anybody on their team,” added Morris, pointing out that former Bucks point guard Jeff Teague said the same on his podcast.
Source: New York Post
Source: New York Post
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Markieff Morris tells me why Kyrie Irving wanted to leave the Nets:
nypost.com/2024/06/07/spo… – 4:12 PM
Markieff Morris tells me why Kyrie Irving wanted to leave the Nets:
nypost.com/2024/06/07/spo… – 4:12 PM
Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Kyrie Irving is here getting shots up as Markieff Morris contests. He was 0-for-5 from 3 in Game 1. pic.twitter.com/mWHgMsLYlA – 12:23 PM
Kyrie Irving is here getting shots up as Markieff Morris contests. He was 0-for-5 from 3 in Game 1. pic.twitter.com/mWHgMsLYlA – 12:23 PM
More on this storyline
“[The Nets] didn’t want to pay him. So what is he playing for? If you’re not trying to pay him in a contract year with this good team, and everybody else is paid, [Kevin Durant] is paid [with a max extension],” Morris said. “Kyrie did everything that you needed to do. … So just go to another team. And now we’re in the finals.” In retrospect, the trade was terrible for the Nets, who fell to 11th in the East last season and just hired their fourth coach in about four years. -via New York Post / June 8, 2024
Though Irving has only alluded to feeling “disrespected” by the Nets, his teammate explained it further in an interview with The Post. “It was time for his contract extension, the two sides didn’t meet up, business got involved, and that’s what happened. That’s how it goes,” Markieff Morris, who was traded with Irving from Brooklyn to Dallas last year, said. “I think Kyrie was averaging about 27 [points] at the time. I think we won 18 out of 20 and all of a sudden the business got involved. That’s how it goes sometimes. A guy of Kyrie’s stature, I wouldn’t be standing for that either. Get me up out of there.” -via New York Post / June 8, 2024
To the Mavericks’ credit, they have created the environment to help draw the best out of Irving. Kidd as the coach he has respected more than any other. Nico Harrison as the GM constantly backing him after their many years together as partners at Nike. Longtime friend God Shammgod to work with Irving daily as a Mavericks assistant coach. Markieff Morris as the veteran teammate Irving leans on — so valued behind the scenes that Kidd tried to make the argument the other day that Morris has “actually been the MVP for the season for us.” -via marcstein.substack.com / May 31, 2024