Kyrie Irving said he is “in love” with Dallas and that the Mavericks are building something, despite trade speculation. He acknowledged chaos inside and outside the locker room, praised the franchise, fans and city, and said he is focused on leading the team back to the playoffs.
Marc Stein reported that Dallas has repeatedly rebuffed trade interest this offseason, though rival teams are watching to see whether that position holds as the Feb. 11 in-season trade deadline nears. Stein cited the age gap between Irving, 34, and 19-year-old Cooper Flagg as a factor in the speculation.
