Basketball legend doesn't think Kyrie Irving will lose career

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Basketball legend doesn't think Kyrie Irving will lose NBA career

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/8/22

Whether it's with the Brooklyn Nets or another NBA team, Hall of Famer Dr. J — Julius Erving — believes that Kyrie Irving is going to get another shot in the NBA.

Erving made the comments to TMZ this week and pointed out how greedy owners are and how much they are willing to overlook for a good player that can score.

Via TMZ:

"The owners are greedy," Dr. J said out at LAX this weekend. "He's going to end up in the league playing for somebody, no matter how toxic he is." "As long as he's young enough to score those buckets, and do what he does, be Kyrie, he's going have a job," he said.

Irving is currently serving a suspension from the Brooklyn Nets after sharing an antisemitic movie on social media. The Nets' team-imposed suspension is at least five games, but there is "growing pessimism" that his time in Brooklyn has come to an end.

The Nets have given Irving a list of six things he needs to do to be able to return to the team this season.

Sources: Nets have delivered Kyrie Irving six items he must complete to return to team:

- Apologize/condemn movie
- $500K donation to anti-hate causes
- Sensitivity training
- Antisemitic training
- Meet with ADL, Jewish leaders
- Meet with Joe Tsai to demonstrate understanding
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 6, 2022

Irving is in the final year of his contract with the Nets and is eligible for free agency after this season.

The question now will be whether or not Irving is willing to complete the aforementioned items to return this season, or if he remains out for the rest of the season and attempts to find a new team in free agency. As toxic as Irving might seem at the moment, it only takes one team to be willing to put up with him.

Irving's entire Brooklyn career has been marred by controversy and disappointment. He has appeared in just 111 games over the four years while the Nets have never made it out of the second round of the NBA playoffs. They have won just four of their first 11 games and are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.

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