Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is refuting Stephen A. Smith's report about point guard Kyrie Irving having a bad attitude since arriving to Brooklyn.
Smith said on ESPN's First Take Thursday morning he's not hearing good things about Irving in Brooklyn. The All-Star privately expressed frustration with ESPN’s report about his “mood swings” which came out a few weeks ago. ESPN reported Nets officials have an “unspoken concern” about Irving’s “infamous mood swings.”
FWIW, I asked Atkinson and he categorically refutes any claims about Irving having a bad attitude since arriving in Brooklyn. Said he’d give the point guard an “A-plus.” #Nets #NBA
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) November 21, 2019
Irving is currently out with a shoulder injury. The Nets are 6-8 on the season, which is good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.
On the season, Irving is averaging 28.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from beyond the arc and 93.7 percent from the free-throw line. Brooklyn is 4-7 when Irving plays.
Irving is one of the most mercurial players in the NBA. This is the same guy who requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers after playing in three straight Finals and left the Boston Celtics after telling fans he was going to stay. However, there's no doubting his special skills on the basketball court and it appears the Nets are fully supportive of Kyrie.
In Brooklyn, Irving is playing with his two pals, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan — although Durant is widely expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season recovering from his Achilles tear.
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