After seemingly endless trade and contract rumors, it looks like Kyrie Irving is sticking with the Brooklyn Nets. He exercised his $37 million player option on Tuesday ahead of the 2022 NBA Free Agency period.

The Nets guard is focused on proving himself this year. This is according to The Athletic, which reports that “multiple sources with knowledge of his decision said Irving wants to prioritize winning a championship next season and show why he's one of the best players in the league.”

These are huge ambitions for Irving, especially given his and his team's capabilities last season.

The Boston Celtics swept the Nets in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. And, Irving was unable to suit up the majority of the season because of his COVID-19 vaccination status. The Nets guard played in 29 of 82 regular season games, averaging 27.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds.

In the 2022-2023 season, Irving will have a lot more say in the Nets' fate. New York lifted the COVID-19 restrictions that interfered with his contributions to the team. He should be eligible to play in most, if not all, of the Nets' games next season.

The only thing still standing in Irving's way is Canada's vaccination mandate. Travelers cannot visit if they are not vaccinated, including NBA players traveling to take on the Toronto Raptors.