Kyrie Irving: “Dallas gave me a chance to just focus on the main thing”

Kyrie Irving is showcasing an All-Star caliber performance this season while representing the Dallas Mavericks. In contrast to his turbulent years with the Brooklyn Nets, he is currently experiencing a lack of off-court issues.

The Mavericks have succeeded in making Irving feel appreciated and backed during his time with the team.

“I had to be mature enough to say I got to take accountability for my own actions,” Irving told ESPN. “I got to really walk and be the example that I want to see in the world. And that’s just being a good person to a lot of people, and not being so hard to reach and not be so isolated to where people can misjudge that as whatever it is. Like, ‘Oh, he doesn’t talk, or he is not really close with anybody. I don’t really know him that well.’ So I feel like a lot of people misjudged me. …

“Dallas gave me a chance to just focus on the main thing, which is being the best basketball player when I stepped foot here, and then off the court still support me.”

Irving holds a high level of admiration for fellow teammate Luka Doncic.

“He’s a winner. I’m a winner,” said Irving. “He’s a big gamer. I’m a big gamer. We like going against the best. That’s where I feel like we connect. …

“At this point in his career, in my career, particularly talking about me and Luka, it’s about how we galvanize the rest of the group. We help each other grow as people, and then the basketball part is the easy part. I needed mentors when I was growing up in the league, so I feel like that’s the role I play here, being a very young mentor to Luka [and] to all our guys.

“Because I’ve seen a lot, I’ve done a lot. I failed at the highest level, I succeeded at the highest level, and I want to get back to that place.”