Kyrie Irving
From Boston to Brooklyn: The four-year chapter of a nine-time All-Star.
Kyrie Irving joined the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent in 2019 after two seasons with the Boston Celtics, beginning a four-season tenure that ended when he was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks in 2023. A nine-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA Team member, Irving brought his championship pedigree from Cleveland, where he hit the title-clinching shot in 2016, to New York. His time in Brooklyn was marked by both elite on-court performance and significant off-court controversy.
- Tenure
- 2019–2023
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Before arriving in Brooklyn, Irving had already made history with the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning Rookie of the Year after being drafted first overall in 2011 and securing an NBA championship in 2016. In that Finals series against the Golden State Warriors, he hit the championship-winning three-pointer to complete a historic comeback. After another Finals appearance in 2017, he requested a trade to Boston, playing there for two seasons before signing with the Nets in 2019. His four seasons in New York were defined by high individual talent, though his tenure concluded when he requested a trade and was sent to Dallas in 2023.
In Their Own Story
Irving's path to Brooklyn began after being selected first overall by Cleveland in the 2011 NBA draft. He spent six seasons there, including winning the 2014 All-Star Game MVP with 31 points and 14 assists. After the 2017 Finals, he moved to Boston for two years. In 2019, he signed as a free agent with the Brooklyn Nets. His time in New York was not without friction; his decision not to get vaccinated for COVID-19 caused him to miss the majority of the 2021–2022 season. Despite these absences and his promotion of various conspiracy theories, including those characterized as antisemitic regarding a film he promoted, he remained a central figure until requesting a trade in 2023.
Reader's Guide
During his four seasons with the Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023), Irving played alongside other stars before his departure. His time there was interrupted significantly by health policy decisions; specifically, his choice not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine led to him missing most of the 2021–2022 season. Off the court, he continued his creative work as 'Uncle Drew,' a character he created for advertisements that became a feature film in 2018. He also lent his voice to animated shows like We Bare Bears and Family Guy. His tenure ended when he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2023, where he would go on to reach his fourth NBA Finals in 2024.
Did You Know?
- Irving won the MVP award for the 2014 All-Star Game, recording 31 points and 14 assists.
- He hit the championship-winning three-pointer in the 2016 NBA Finals to complete a historic comeback over the Warriors.
- His decision not to get vaccinated for COVID-19 caused him to miss the majority of the 2021–2022 season.
- Irving played one year of college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before being drafted first overall in 2011.
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