By Tennie Sumague
EBC New York Bureau
BROOKLYN, NY — (Eagle News) – Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way – the famous Notorious B.I.G. phrase that holds value to the culture of the Brooklyn Nets organization. That love, resonated from fans and teammates at Barclays Center during Kyrie Irving’s Nets debut on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The sold out crowd applauded loudly for the six-time All-Star, who hails from nearby West Orange, New Jersey. With emotions engulfing through, Irving held his composure as he addressed the fans before tipoff.
“I’m eternally grateful to be here, be back home in front of you guys with my teammates,” Irving told the fans. “On behalf of all of us…Oh man, I’m sorry, it’s just hitting me right now…I appreciate you guys and I look forward to you guys supporting us all season. Let’s go Nets.”
Irving paused during his pregame speech, sinking and savoring the moment with his family present, a moment that he has been dreaming of since the fourth grade.
“I wasn’t trying to be too emotional before the game. Just a Jersey kid playing for his home team. There’s nothing like it. This has been brewing since I was in fourth grade. I didn’t know what was going to happen at this point or at this age, but it’s here and I just want to take full advantage of it and just be happy, just have a sense of gratitude every time I step on the floor wearing a Nets uniform.”
The Nets home opener fell on the one-year death anniversary of Irving’s grandfather, a life-changing event that sucked the joy of basketball out of the 27-year old point guard last season with the Boston Celtics. As ther team leader, Irving took full responsibility for the Celtics’ disappointing season.
Looking rejuvenated, Irving dazzled on the court every quarter – 12 points in the first, 13 in the second, five in the third, 13 in the fourth plus seven in overtime. With the 50-point performance, he set an NBA and Nets franchise record for most points scored in a player’s debut with a team. Irving also had seven rebounds, five assists and committed zero turnovers. Despite his stellar performance, Irving slipped and missed a fadeaway jumper in the final seconds of overtime. The Nets fell short 127-126 against the Timberwolves.
“The job wasn’t done,” Irving said about his historic scoring performance. “So that 50 just goes into just another few numbers that it holds value but not really when you don’t get a win.”
The first game, with 81 more games to play this season, was a preview of what is to come in Brooklyn’s ‘Kyrie’ era.
“We’re all getting to know each other,” Nets coach, Kenny Atkinson said. “[Kyrie’s] getting to know his teammates, he’s getting to know the system. He obviously was hot there and we’ll look at it but I think he really made some plays. What I say to the point guards is to read the defense. If it calls for you to get 50 points, get 50. There will be other nights where it will be 15 assists. I think a big part of this is getting more reps and getting to know each other better.”
(Eagle News Service)