Former Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving thinks the Nets could have gone all the way to winning a title in 2021 if Giannis Antetokounmpo hadn’t ruined it in the second round.
The Bucks forward landed on Irving’s foot in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, a series where the Nets were leading 2-1 before Irving’s devastating injury.
The now Dallas guard took to Twitter to respond to a recent post about the 2021 incident that drew comparisons to Giannis’ back injury from the current postseason.
“One of the most disappointing and painful moments of career,” Kyrie wrote. “If I don’t get hurt that series, every single one of us on that Brooklyn team/bandwagon would be Champions. No fu*king doubt about it.”
Now you know how we feel https://t.co/xDKXgDiXYo pic.twitter.com/cyauDLnqk9
— BKN 85 (@brooklynnets85) April 25, 2023
Irving has blamed Antetokounmpo for Brooklyn’s downfall in 2021 before. They definitely had the means because that team also had Kevin Durant and James Harden.
Mid-way through the 2021-22 season, Irving brought up that fateful injury, even going so far as to claim that the Bucks star hurt him on purpose.
“And then I’m going up for a shot, and Giannis comes over, and his foot,” Irving said, then using his fingers to make air quotes he said, “just happens to be in the way.”
Irving was a long way off winning a title this season as Dallas couldn’t even make the play in tournament.
Read more: Kyrie Irving Calls Out Taylor Jenkins For His Criticism of Grizzlies
