After the fight Williams insisted his boxing debut is a one and done scenario, but he did call out ex-Jet receiver Brandon Marshall who challenged the toughness of NBA players as opposed to NFL players. Williams never panned out with Brooklyn despite being named an NBA All-Star in 2012. The Nets floor general drew major criticism after signing a near $100 million contract upon the team's move to Brooklyn and never living up to the hype. In fact, due to a stretch provision the Nets still paid Williams $5 million annually five years after he was released and up until June 2020 as part of the stretch provision. Williams was a terrific player in his heyday, but whether it be the pressure of playing in New York, or some of the aging supporting cast around him in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Williams left Nets fans wishing for moreDamn.
— MaximBet (@MaximBetUSA) December 19, 2021
Deron Williams is ragdolling Frank Gore. 😳#PaulWoodley2 #Boxingpic.twitter.com/yKXKYk6rli
Report: 'Nets players and coaches want Kyrie to join team ASAP'
According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, there is renewed optimism about Kyrie Irving returning to the Nets this season.
Charania indicates there's been increased dialogue between Kevin Durant and Irving about his fit on the team and analyzing Nets' game.
It's unclear the exact scenario around Irving's potential return. There's been no clear indication that vaccine mandates for pubic venues in New York City will be lifted anytime soon.Sources: There’s renewed optimism around All-NBA star Kyrie Irving returning to the Brooklyn Nets this season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 13, 2021
Details on Nets-Irving latest, Ben Simmons‘ market and more in Inside Pass at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/EJBvA7v8Pn
Back in September, the Nets' brass of Joe Tsai, Sean Marks and Steve Nash refused to allow Kyrie to be a part-time player and practice with the team, while playing only in road games where the vaccine mandate doesn't apply.
The recent report could mean one of three things, either the Nets are softening their stance regarding Irving being a part-time player, Irving has agreed to get the vaccine or there has been a change to New York City's vaccine mandate.There is renewed optimism around Kyrie Irving returning to the Nets this season, sources tell @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/DbCpvbt4Ky
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 13, 2021
Whatever the case may be, the report is a major development for the Nets' title chances this upcoming season. Brooklyn has the best record in the Eastern Conference, but has failed every litmus test against the NBA's elite teams. As this story is updated, further details will emerge, but this has to be an encouraging sign as virtually nothing has been reported about Irving's status changing since the start of the year.
Angry Nets Fans Remember, Without Kyrie there's no KD or Harden
Fans can be fickle and forgetful. Kyrie Irving is absorbing heat for his refusal to get vaccinated and comply with local mandates. The Nets don't want Irving as a part-time player and thus the standoff has reached its fifth month.
Fans and media clamoring for the Nets point guard to make the decision they want and what's best for their team, not the individual.
At the end of the day, Irving has a personal choice, but he'll have to live with the consequences of his decision.
No NBA basketball unless there's a change to New York City vaccine requirements or he opts for some form of the vaccine.
Most fans and the public at large are outraged at Irving's decision amidst a health crisis with the pandemic simply much bigger than the game of basketball.
Most quickly forget that it was Irving who was the key driving force for bringing Kevin Durant to Brooklyn with him back in 2019 and forming a superstar duo that James Harden couldn't resist joining upon wiggling out of Houston.
The Brooklyn Nets as you see them today, are a culmination of Irving assuming the role as lead recruiter for his childhood team.
So not matter how upset, annoyed or disenfranchised you are with the Nets franchise point guard, remember, there's no KD or Harden without Kyrie.
After 25 Games, Nets Still Searching For Team Identity
Who are the 2021-2022 Brooklyn Nets? Ask Steve Nash, Kevin Durant and James Harden and they'll all answer in a similar manner.
They're still trying to figure things out. Brooklyn's roster was built around three superstars and with Kyrie Irving still unvaccinated, he remains away from the team indefinitely.
Sean Marks has done a remarkable job of compiling assets to build the star-studded roster that you see in Brooklyn, but outside of Patty Mills, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bruce Brown and flashes of James Johnson, the Nets don't have any reliable players outside of Harden and Durant.
Last season, Brooklyn's big three played only 8 regular season games together, but its bench and role players held down the fort with stars shuffled in and out for a multitude of reasons.
That has been far from the case this year as Brooklyn has stood virtually no chance to win without Durant in the lineup and a diminished Harden who still doesn't look like himself.
Marks has received plenty of praise over the years for successfully building a championship contender, but the Nets don't pass the eye test despite being No. 1 in the East and look far more like pretenders.
The Nets' GM will need to navigate Irving's tricky vaccination situation sooner than later to determine whether he'll be part of the team's plans this year or a piece to bring in reinforcements for Durant and Harden.
NBA stats create their legacy based on what they do in the biggest games and in clutch moments and in the two months leading up to the trade deadline, Marks can either add to his legend or so things go South quickly depending on how the roster is handled from here on out.
Claxton's dust up with Doncic ignites Nets furious comeback win over Mavs
Down by 17 points in the third quarter, Steve Nash and the Nets could have easily packed it in and called off the dogs in the front end of a back to back Texas road trip. Instead, Brooklyn rallied to stun Luka Doncic and ex-Net player and coach Jason Kidd.
Behind a behind 24-13 fourth quarter and James Harden and Kevin Durant coming alive offensively late, Brooklyn finally secured a signature win against a quality opponent.
Harden finished with 23 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, while Durant dumped in 24 and seven rebounds including clutch basket after clutch basket in the final minutes.
Nic Claxton on what caused Luka Doncic to shove him, resulting in a tech for Doncic:
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) December 8, 2021
"I didn't say nothing to him, I think I just kind of got in his face and he took offense to it and gave me a little shove. I like that though, that keeps me going. That's good" pic.twitter.com/oiFf3b7A62
One of the momentum changing sequences came with 3:24 remaining in the third quarter when Nic Claxton was called for a kick ball violation while guarding Doncic. After the whistle, Claxton went chest to chest with the Slovenian Sensation and jawed at him before Doncic shoved him away to draw a technical foul. From that point on, the Nets went on to outscore Dallas 34-22.
A visibly frustrated Doncic tried to answer the Nets furious rally, but the left for dead Brooklyn offense got a much needed spark from Claxton's dust up.
The Nets have been searching for their identity throughout the first quarter of the regular season and with Harden looking like a shell of himself and the team failing to pass the litmus test against tougher opponents, Tuesday's win answered some of these questions, at least for the night.
Brooklyn takes on Houston on Wednesday looking to improve on their 17-7 record and pad it's lead for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Kyrie doing what's best for Kyrie means Nets need to do what's best for them
Kyrie Irving wants his ultimate decision to take or not to take the vaccine to be up to him and him alone. The Nets point guard doesn't want to be influenced by any outside sources including the team, media or angry fans with pitchforks pressuring him to comply with NYC's local mandates and return to the club.
That being said, Irving is putting the Nets and their fans in a very difficult position by staying in a holding pattern and keeping hope alive, even just slightly, that he'd be back with the team this year.
Honestly, Irving and the Nets may have been better off if he determined during training camp that he was not going to get vaccinated at any point. This would have allowed Sean Marks plenty of lead time to plant seeds with other teams and find the most beneficial move to allow the Nets to get somewhere near full value in return for the mercurial star.
In fact, Irving's vacillating has made him a side story, which is exactly what he didn't want to be. Steve Nash and company have taken the right mindset by keeping a seat on the bandwagon open, while not stopping the season tour and refusing to constantly look in the rearview for Irving to appear.
Whatever issue Irving has with receiving the vaccine, he's made it clear it's personal to him and he'd like to handle it as such. While fans on each side of this argument will battle over the merits of Irving's decision, the reality is nothing has changed since July regarding his status.
While a recent report from Bally Sports indicated Irving may be waiting for and open to a plant-based vaccine, it's hard to get inside the thinking of a man who doesn't always seem to know what he wants himself.
The only thing left to do for the Nets is take back control of the situation and not impose any type of ultimatum, but a deadline to make a decision. If Irving hasn't been vaccinated by New Year's Day, Marks and crew should let it be known to Irving only that they will not only field offers for him, but proactively make calls.
Is this in a way forcing Irving's hand? Absolutely. However, it's in no way coercing him into a decision he doesn't want to make. Brooklyn simply shouldn't be held hostage anymore, especially in a season with championship aspirations and a few missing pieces on the roster it will need to desperately fill to make those dreams a reality.