Duke basketball: Kyrie Irving fires back at critics on social media

Former Duke basketball point guard Kyrie Irving fired back at his critics on social media. 

Over the last handful of seasons in the NBA, former Duke basketball point guard Kyrie Irving has become one of the most polarizing players in the sport.

Since leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to get out of the shadow of LeBron James, Irving played two seasons in Boston with the Celtics before going back on his word, in which he said he would sign with the franchise longterm, and signed with the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent.

After an injury and COVID-19 shortened first season in Brooklyn, Irving also saw his second year with the franchise come to a close with him on the sidelines with an ankle injury suffered in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Despite all of the off-court shenanigans with Irving, he still appears committed to playing with the Brooklyn Nets this season.

Nick Wright, a hot take specialist on FOX Sports, tweeted on Wednesday afternoon that there are several trades Brooklyn could make surrounding the former Blue Devil. But Irving’s agent has made it known he would retire from basketball if traded away from the Nets.

Irving responded with a ‘gif’ and the comment “A Puppet”.

Irving has played in just 74 games over two seasons with the Nets, in which he has averaged a career-best 27.0 points. 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.

Former Duke basketball star quiets down critics on social media yet again

It was a busy Wednesday for Kyrie Irving on Twitter after he tweeted, “My mask is off. Now take yours off. No fear.”

Many took this tweet in reference to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in which the CDC recommends that wearing a mask helps prevent transmission of the virus as well as its delta variant, which is more transmissible according to health experts.

However, after receiving backlash on his post, Irving sent out another tweet referencing that his initial post was not COVID-19 related in any way.

https://twitter.com/KyrieIrving/status/1438287856703737857?s=20

Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets are scheduled to begin the 2021-22 NBA season on the road in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch against the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks on October 19.