Kyrie Irving’s message about the Boston Celtics

“It was meant to happen like that,” he said.

“Motivation, bro. We needed that humbling experience, especially going against the Celtics. It was already built in to be that matchup.

“We gonna see ’em again. We gonna have to. They gonna be where they gonna be. But those young-uns over there in Boston, bro, I got to see them grow up. So to see them doing what they did last year, on the Finals stage, making it that far, I’m glad they had to go through us.”

So there you have it.

Between his relationship with Kevin Durant coming under scrutiny and the Los Angeles Lakers’ failed attempt to acquire him – Irving has been in the headlines nonstop this summer.

It has just been one thing after another.

This will be something of a defining year for Irving’s career. The Nets have enough talent top to bottom to compete for a title. If they win it all or come close to it, and assuming Irving plays a significant role, he could seriously repair his reputation to a massive degree.

Should the opposite occur, though – do not be shocked if he does not end up having as many takers for his services in the offseason as he himself might imagine he will.