Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving felt a wave of emotions as he addressed the home crowd ahead of the team's opening night contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kyrie got emotional while addressing Nets fans for the first time š pic.twitter.com/R4cHAQU383
ā Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 23, 2019
Irving grew up in West Orange, NJ and made it known that the ability to play closer to home was a major factor in his decision to sign with the Nets in free agency.
The All-Star point guard was the first to sign with the Nets before eventually being joined by Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan. However, Durant will miss the entirety of the 2019-20 season, putting the onus on Irving to lead a young Brooklyn squad back to the playoffs.
Kyrie has not had a ton of success in a leadership role. He forced his way out of Cleveland in order to get away from the shadow of LeBron James. Nonetheless, he subsequently struggled to relate to his younger teammates with the Boston Celtics.
Irving is unquestionably one of the best point guards in the league. He can score from anywhere on the floor and possesses arguably the best handle in basketball. Similarly, Irving is a ruthless and demanding competitor who is as good as they come in the fourth quarter.
Yet once again, he finds himself in a crucial leadership role for a Nets team that wants to take the next step in their progression. He isĀ theĀ star on the floor without Durant in the mix.
Perhaps, playing in front of his family and friends will propel Irving to new heights this year.
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