Kyrie Irving addressed the shocking trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers for the first time after the Mavericks’ 1118-116 loss to the 76ers on Tuesday, telling reporters that he was “really shocked” and still in the “grieving process” over what transpired.
Dallas has dropped its first two games since the trade went down, but Irving did not appear in the Sunday loss to the Cavaliers, making Tuesday the first time he spoke to the media since the blockbuster.
“Just really shocked. You just don’t imagine that you’re gonna get ready to go to sleep and find out news like that,” Irving told reporters. “So still the grieving process right now. I miss my hermano. We had a lot of time together — [Markieff Morris] too, and [Maxi Kleber]. We just built some bonds that went beyond the basketball court. If anybody can understand at home, when someone or a few people leave in a trade it’s gonna be difficult, and that’s what we’re dealing with right now.”
The trade caught the entire basketball world off guard and has created dissatisfaction among the team’s fans, who have been vocally protesting the team’s front office.
The deal sent Doncic, Kleber and Morris to the Lakers with Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick going back to Dallas.