When he was transferred to Dallas in February 2023, Kyrie Irving didn't leave alone. We must not forget that, in fact, Markieff Morris was also involved in this exchange, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith went the opposite way to Brooklyn.
Marcus' brother is therefore well placed to comment on this important moment in the career of the Dallas playmaker. We remember that the latter, just a few hours after the transfer, declared that he felt, at the Nets, “very little respected”…
“It was at the time of his contract extension. There was no meeting between the two camps and business intervened. This is what happened”, remember Markieff Morris. “Kyrie Irving was averaging 27 points and we had just won 18 out of 20 games. That's when business took precedence. This happens sometimes. I wouldn't put up with that if I was a guy of his stature. »
He thrives in Dallas
As the 2016 champion was then mainly noticed by extra-sporting problems (his refusal of vaccination, therefore his missed matches, or his suspension for sharing an anti-Semitic film), the Nets did not want to extend it as much as possible. Here again, his teammate understands the reaction of the former Boston player.
“The franchise didn’t want to pay him, so why is he playing? »Morris reacts. “If we don't pay him in the last year of his contract when everyone is well paid, and Kevin Durant is… Kyrie Irving did what was necessary. So he went to another team. And now he's in the NBA Finals. »
He won his extension in Texas ($126 million over three years) and the All-Star is now more mature. This season, he only focused on the floors and that's a good thing. For him already, but also for his fans and especially for the Mavericks.
“He’s in a place where he can thrive. Everyone is on the same wavelength, there are no secrets. It's in its 13th season, so am I, and we want to be somewhere where people love us, and where it's not just about business. We want to end our career in a nice place”concludes Markieff Morris.
