Kyrie Irving is officially a Brooklyn Net.
The 27-year-old point guard signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Brooklyn Nets this offseason after previously playing two seasons for the Boston Celtics. Irving plans on teaming up with one-time All-Star center DeAndre Jordan and four-time league scoring champion, but injured, forward Kevin Durant with the Nets to build their own super team of sorts.
Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson officially commented on Brooklyn's newsworthy signing of the elite guard Irving.
Per NBA.com:
“Kyrie is one of the NBA’s elite guards and has won at the highest level,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “His championship pedigree, coupled with his gifted scoring and playmaking abilities, will make him an outstanding addition to our team. We’re very excited to welcome Kyrie and his family to Brooklyn.”
Atkinson would go on to praise Irving by saying “The entire coaching staff is excited to have the opportunity to coach a player of Kyrie’s caliber,” and he's “as talented and accomplished as any point guard in our game and we are enthusiastic about integrating him and our other new roster additions into our returning core.”
Irving is a former first-overall draft pick, originally selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011, and one-time NBA champion with Cleveland. He's a six-time All-Star, including one All-Star Game MVP, former Rookie of the Year and two-time All-NBA player.
He's averaged 22.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 508 career appearances, shooting 46.5% from the field, 39% from three-point range, and 87.5% from the free throw line.
The Nets courted USA Basketball and 2016 Summer Olympics gold medalist teammates and friends Irving, Durant, and Jordan during free agency, pitching on competing together and potentially dominating the Eastern Conference. All three All-Stars signed four-year contracts.
