The Dallas Mavericks’ blockbuster trade Sunday to acquire Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving marked the franchise’s riskiest move of the Luka Doncic era.
While Irving has compiled elite statistics and accolades on the court during his 12 NBA seasons, self-inflicted controversy and disgruntlement has often overshadowed his success.
His tenures with the Cleveland Cavaliers (six seasons from 2011-2017), Boston Celtics (two seasons from 2017-19) and Brooklyn Nets (four seasons from 2019 through Sunday) ended with playoff shortcomings and disruptive trade requests.
What makes the Mavericks think Irving’s outlook will be different in Dallas?
Here are all the connections between the team’s newest All-Star and the Mavericks’ front office, coaching staff and roster.
General manager Nico Harrison
Before joining the Mavericks’ front office in June 2021, Harrison spent 20-plus years with Nike, working from entry-level field representative in Dallas to vice president of North American basketball operations.
While Harrison’s connections at Nike most famously include former Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Irving was also a Nike client from 2011 through November 2022. He launched a signature shoe line in 2014 that ranked among the brand’s most popular until Nike severed ties with Irving following his promotion of an Anti-Semitic conspiracy film and refusal to apologize.
Head coach Jason Kidd
As Kidd compiled a Hall of Fame NBA career from 1994-2013, one now-notable young fan watched from afar:
Irving.
Growing up, Irving considered Kidd among his favorites to watch, and they overlapped for two seasons as players (Irving as a No. 1 overall pick in Cleveland and Kidd with the Knicks and Mavericks in 2011-12 and 2012-13) before Kidd’s retirement.
They formed a personal relationship through their shared trainer, Robin Pound, who brought Irving to Kidd’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2018.
Matt Riccardi (senior director of pro personnel) and Andrew Baker (senior director, salary cap and strategy)
Riccardi and Baker, two of the five Mavericks executives most closely involved in personnel moves, may not be names familiar to those outside the team, but they’ve maintained the most recent connections to Irving.
Riccardi, who grew up in Plano, moved back to Dallas in August to join Harrison’s staff after 13 years with the Nets, where he developed from entry-level basketball operations assistant to director of scouting operations and general manager of the team’s G League affiliate.
Baker joined the Mavericks in August 2021 after five years as Brooklyn’s strategic planning coordinator and then director of contract management.
The two were in the Nets’ front office when the franchise landed Irving and MVP candidate Kevin Durant as a free-agent package deal in 2019.
Forward Theo Pinson
With Spencer Dinwiddie headed back to Brooklyn in the Irving deal, Pinson represents the Mavericks’ lone current player who has previously played in the NBA with Irving.
Pinson signed with the Nets as an undrafted rookie in 2018 and played two seasons in Brooklyn, overlapping with Irving’s arrival in 2019-20. While Pinson served as a reserve shooting guard that year, Irving averaged 27.4 points in 20 games — including a 50-point debut — before a right shoulder injury forced him to miss extended time and undergo season-ending surgery.
Wing Reggie Bullock
Bullock and Irving have also been teammates — for one game.
The two played for the East Team in the 2010 McDonald’s All-American showcase, where Irving earned co-MVP honors with former Maverick Harrison Barnes. Both also played in the 2010 Jordan Brand Classic, another national All-Star game for high school seniors.
Bullock (with North Carolina) and Irving (with Duke) also played against one another as rival college freshmen during the 2010-11 NCAA season.
Twitter: @CallieCaplan
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