A former Duke basketball guard was not happy with a North Carolina Tar Heel after a dirty play.
Every road game for the Brooklyn Nets becomes much-watch television thanks to the return of Duke basketball star Kyrie Irving.
Irving, who is only still allowed to play in road games due to his vaccination status, took the court for the second time this year on Monday night as the Nets faced the Portland Trail Blazers.
The former Blue Devil posted 22 points, three rebounds, and four assists on January 5 in his season debut against the Indiana Pacers in a Brooklyn victory, but Monday was a similar stat line yet a different result.
Kyrie Irving again went for 22 points against the Blazers while adding eight rebounds and four assists as Portland emerged victorious, 114-108.
However, it was the postgame comments of Irving that made headlines around the NBA world.
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With just under six minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and Portland leading 98-93, there was a tipped ball that went into the backcourt as Irving and Blazers forward, and former Tar Heel, Nassir Little went after it.
Last touched by Portland, Irving was content watching the ball roll out of bounds on the sideline. But Little came diving to try and keep the ball from going out of bounds and took Irving’s legs out in the process.
No foul was called on the play, but the ball was last touched by Little, keeping the possession with Brooklyn despite his efforts to try and save the ball or deflect it off Irving.
Here is the diving play by Nassir Little that Kyrie Irving felt was ‘unnecessary.’ Irving rolled his left ankle but finished the game and said he’ll be available for Chicago. pic.twitter.com/4qOkQpEl6j
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) January 11, 2022
Kyrie Irving rolled his ankle on the play but was able to finish the game and said that he would be available for the Nets on Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls.
Duke basketball star calls out Tar Heel for dirty play
In his postgame press conference, Kyrie Irving was asked about the play involving Nassir Little, and the former Blue Devil did not hold back.
"It was an unnecessary play...I could've broke my ankle or done something worse. There's just no place in our game for it. I get the intent from Nassir...but it could've been avoided"
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) January 11, 2022
Kyrie Irving speaks on the diving play by Nassir Little that twisted his ankle pic.twitter.com/h42SQZ23m6
“I could have broke my ankle or done something worse,” Irving told the media after the Nets’ loss.
Kyrie Irving missed the Nets playoff run last season with a right ankle sprain after he stepped on the foot of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Irving missed the rest of the series, in which the Nets lost in seven games, and Milwaukee went on to win its first NBA Title since 1971.