Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis’ partnership could be shortlived as the former could leave the team this summer, it has been speculated.
After leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving’s reputation took a major hit. It didn’t help when the 2016 NBA champion left the Boston Celtics after just two seasons.
Irving landed with the Brooklyn Nets, where he spent more than three years, only to demand a trade and find himself with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
Since joining the Mavs, Irving has regained the majority of his fans as he helped the organization reach the 2024 NBA Finals. But with Doncic shockingly traded to the LA Lakers, Kai finds himself teammates with Anthony Davis.
Irving’s short-lived stint with the Celtics could have extended as the star guard reportedly discussed joining forces with Davis, who was a member of the New Orleans Pelicans at the time.
NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson shared details of the conversation between the two stars in 2017.
“I know with Anthony Davis and Kyrie, there was a conversation in 2017, 2018 of the potential of being teammates in Boston. They ultimately years later became teammates in Dallas,” Scoop B said.
He added: “I don’t want to speak for either one, but figuring out whether they want to finish their career in Dallas. Kyrie is in a good space with his family.”
To be honest, the Kyrie x AD partnership sounds good on paper. However, they are yet to truly share the court with each other since Davis was traded to the Mavericks.
AD has been sidelined due to an adductor injury during his team debut. Once Davis returns to the lineup, it will be interesting to see how the partnership pans out for the rest of the season.
Irving’s reputation took heavy damage during his stint with the Nets for a plethora of reasons, but the 32-year-old has worked hard to improve it throughout his time in Dallas.
Scoop B believes that’s the exact reason why other teams could try to lure Irving out of Dallas in the offseason.
“I do think there are other teams out there that could take an interest in him. I don’t know any off the top of my head. But what I’m saying is if he’s looking to move elsewhere, he could,” Robinson continued.
“He has more than repaired his image in a way that he has been perceived and I think at the same time, however, both he and Dallas have mutually shown each other the proper love or respect that is deserved,” he concluded.
A few weeks earlier, Scoop B also reported that talks of sending both Irving and Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns were also being discussed in 2022.
However, they never reached any conclusion. With Durant reportedly disgruntled with the Suns, a surprise partnership in Dallas could also reunite him with Irving.
