After trade to Mavs, Kyrie Irving doesn't want to talk about future

DALLAS (AP) —Kyrie Irving isn’t interested in talking about what his long-termfuture could be with the Dallas Mavericks, and he doesn’tunderstand why people don’t think he can play well off theball.

“All I know,this is really playing basketball with a lot of high-level, high-IQplayers and making it work,” Irving said before his first home gameMonday with the Mavericks and All-Star teammate Luka Doncic. “Everysingle time I step foot out there, I get a chance to prove it tomyself that I can play with anybody and everybody and still beefficient and be myself.”

Irving’s homedebut in Dallas came a week after the blockbuster deal becameofficial to bring the potential free agent from the BrooklynNets.The Mavericks lost 124-121to the MinnesotaTimberwolves, who held on even as Irving scored 26 of his 36 pointsin the fourth quarter.

The firstthree games for Irving with the Mavs were on the road, and heplayed with Doncic for the first time Saturday night—Irving had 28 points and Doncic 27in an overtime loss at Sacramento. Doncic had 33 points againstMinnesota.

As for whathappens after this season, the talented and enigmatic eight-timeAll-Star said that question constantly getting asked just putsunwanted distractions on him and the team.

“I’ve dealtwith it before and it’s very emotionally draining to ask questionsabout what’s the long term,” Irving said. “What the future holds isreally only going to be dictated on what I do right now, and how Iprepare for those next steps, and that’s being the best teammatethat I can in that locker room and a great leader out here, I thinkwithin the Dallas community. ... So we’re just putting that to bedand just focus on what we have ahead as a team.”

TheMavericks, with 23 games remaining, are part of a crowded mix for aplayoff spot. They are tied for fifth in the Western Conference,only 2 1/2 games ahead of 11th place — the first spot left out ofthe postseason.

When Dallasgeneral manager Nico Harrison was asked his response to people whoviewed the acquisition of Irving and his expiring contract as arisk, the former Nike executive, who already had a relationshipwith the player, said that wasn’t the case.

“I don’t seeany risk involved at all. I’ve known Kyrie for a long time, I knowhis core, I know what what type of person is. I think anybody who’sever watched him play basketball knows the type of basketballplayer he is,” Harrison said. “So I don’t see risk. I actually seea risk in not doing it.”

Irving smiledand responded, “touché,” then adding that he appreciated theirrelationship and that it was now up to him to prove it “and controlwhat I can control.”

Dallas alsogot Markieff Morris in the tradethat sent Spencer Dinwiddie,Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and two second-roundchoices to the Nets.

Irving had arelationship with Nike for the entirety of his NBA career untilearlier this season, when the sneaker giant dropped him — andcanceled the planned release of his next signature shoe just beforeit came out — after Irving tweeted a link to an antisemiticfilm.

“I would loveto be well-liked by everybody. ... Oh, that’s just not it. That’sjust not for I think anyone in this room,” Irving said. “But thegenuine love that you have in your heart is the only thing that youcan really control. I have open dialogue with everybody that spendstime with me, wants to have conversation, wants to ask mequestions.”

For those whodon’t like him, he said he wishes them well.

“But I have alife to live and I have kids to raise,” he said. “So I don’t reallyhave the energy to sit and focus on things I can’t control.”