When it comes to Kyrie Irving and the off-court chatter following Uncle Drew, Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is unbothered.
Durant said on The ETCs podcast he has full confidence in Irving's ability to step on the court and perform at a high level, regardless of the scrutiny he receives off the floor:
“Kyrie is going to play a nice efficient game this year… all that other s**t that people talk about, I was never concerned with that,” Durant said, via ESPN. “Kyrie is going to play the right way and he's going to do his best when he's out there.”
Irving has been something of a lightning rod for controversy.
Article Continues BelowFrom previous flat-Earth comments to suggesting he was Durant in a past life and burning sage at TD Garden, Irving has often attracted the attention of the masses even away from the basketball court. There was some speculation as to whether he was contemplating retirement when he left the team for personal reasons earlier this season.
But Kyrie did return to the floor, and he has been an offensive force. Irving is averaging 27.9 points, 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent from the field, 42.0 percent from beyond the arc and 95.0 percent from the free-trow line. He dominated the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, scoring 35 points in 35 minutes and making all 17 of his free-throw attempts.
The spotlight will continue to be on the Nets as the season rolls along and all of Durant, Irving and James Harden mesh. There are still plenty of questions as to the defensive capabilities of the Irving-Harden backcourt.
But Durant knows Irving is always ready to show out when it's time to hoop, and the Nets should find a groove at some point.