“I mean, it’s transparent. It’s out there. It’s glaring, in terms of the pieces that we need in order to be at that next level... we’ll worry about all the other stuff, in terms of moving pieces and everything else, as an organization down the line in the summer... but it’s pretty glaring we need one more piece or two more pieces.”
That was Kyrie Irving after the Nets’ recent loss to the 76ers. Was he too harsh? Is that how to inspire and lead a team?
Irving doesn’t care what you think. Here’s what he said Friday when asked about his comments and leadership, via SNYtv.
Kyrie Irving with STRONG words at practice:
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 17, 2020
"It's not like I'm an ass---- yelling at everybody in the freaking locker room all the time ... If it's harsh as a leader or it's too much for anybody, you're not in our locker room—stay the f--- out." pic.twitter.com/peVcXQgsun
“It’s a telltale sign of the career that I’ve had. Some of the moves that I’ve made individually, and then as well as coming to different environments and organizations. ...It’s not like I’m an a****** yelling at everybody in the freaking locker room all the time and you hear all these stories.
“At the end of the day, my name... is in a lot of people’s mouths all the time and it is what it is. I’ve earned that respect in terms of how great I am as a player and there’s still more goals I want to accomplish in this league, and I can’t do it without improving an organization and winning a championship and that’s what it comes down to. So I’m going to continue to push and continue to demand greatness of myself and demand greatness out of my teammates, and we go from there.”
“If it’s harsh as a leader or it’s too much for anybody, you’re not in our locker room -- stay the f*** out. It’s as simple as that.”
Irving is his own cat, and he leads in his own style. Whether that works for his teammates depends on his individual teammates (as it does with LeBron James’ teammates, or Kobe’s, or Tim Duncan’s or... you get the idea).
Irving’s leadership gets questioned by fans (and media) because of what happened in Boston last season and on the court over the past two seasons — when Irving plays the Nets/Celtics have been 42-39 (51.9%), when he sits they are 25-16 (61%). However, real leadership is much more than wins and losses. We don’t know what the Brooklyn players really think of Irving.
The Nets are an interesting chemistry experiment. General Manager Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson built a Spursian, selfless team and identity, a lunch-pail group that worked their way into the playoffs last season. To that they added Irving and Kevin Durant, world-class talents but guys who come with big egos, guys used to winning by doing things their way. How this all meshes remains to be seen.
Whatever happens, Irving will be Irving. He knows no other way.
