James Harden on Kyrie Irving: ‘I want him to be on the team’

At this point, the Nets — both management and players — say they want Irving back on the court, but respect his privacy claims. “If he’s not on the court, yeah [it would hurt us]. He’s one of our best players and one of our leaders,” Harden said after practice Thursday. “I want him to be on the team, of course,” Harden told reporters when asked if he hopes Irving would get vaccinated. “He’s been a huge part since I’ve been here, a huge part of our success. The success we did have last year, we were kind of finding a rhythm, that chemistry that we’ve built. I can remember last year that one road trip we had, me and Kyrie. He’s just a special talent that you don’t really see often, so of course I would want him to be on the team. He’s one of the reasons why I came here.”
Source: Net Income @ NetsDaily

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Kyrie Irving listed as “ineligible to play” vs. Bucks
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/12… – 6:15 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Friday’s @lockedonlakers pod, early on YouTube. We talk with @redrock_bball (@LockedOnNBAPods, @lockedonfantasy) about the Lakers, Kyrie, Simmons, and where to take LeBron, AD and Russ in your draft. @LockedOnNetwork
Subscribe to the channel!
youtube.com/watch?v=SIXv0e… – 1:46 AM

The Jump @_Talkin_NBA
The fans want to see you play @Kyrie Irving!
#NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/vzFRym03qt – 12:22 AM

Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
James Harden: Not having Kyrie Irving ‘would hurt us’ #Nets #NBA nypost.com/2021/10/07/net… via @nypostsports teammate @NYPost_Brazille – 9:38 PM

Steve Popper @StevePopper
While there is a lot of rest and load management (and whatever it is Kyrie is doing) going on in preseason, Tom Thibodeau has given hints that he will play to win every night when the season tips off just like last year. pic.twitter.com/ikEd4ocRuA – 8:47 PM

Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
Lowe Post podcast: @Bill Simmons stops by to preview the NBA season: Kyrie/Nets, new potential rivalries (are rivalries dead?), Ben Simmons trades, power teams in danger of falling into the play-in, much more:
Spotify: spoti.fi/3lhApmV
Apple: apple.co/3uMWsoO – 8:10 PM

Jon Hamm @JonMHamm
Yes I believe the NBA included Kyrie in NBA Lane pic.twitter.com/TzBzwDGQPh – 6:32 PM

Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @ForbesSports
Kyrie Irving To Miss Brooklyn Nets First Preseason Game, James Harden Says a Prolonged Absence Would ‘Hurt Us’
forbes.com/sites/adamzago… – 6:29 PM

Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Official status of Kyrie Irving: “Ineligible to play” Friday at home against Milwaukee, Nets say.
My column on where the Nets go from here when Irving can only participate in team activities once (Monday at Philadelphia) between now and opening night: marcstein.substack.com/p/kyrie-wants-… – 6:13 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“I think it’s a terrible situation”
🔊 Longtime NBA Coach P.J. Carlesimo tells @talkhoops & @LegsESPN why the Kyrie Irving situation has him very concerned for the Nets #BrooklynTogether pic.twitter.com/QXpnGXYQbb – 6:00 PM

Ian Begley @IanBegley
Kyrie Irving is officially listed as ‘ineligible to play’ by the Nets for tomorrow’s home preseason game vs. MIL. Under local ordinance, Knicks/Nets need to be vaccinated to play in home games/practices. Irving hasn’t practiced in BKN. This will be his 1st missed home game. – 5:50 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Nets listed Kyrie Irving as out/ineligible for Friday’s preseason game vs. Bucks. It marks the first home game Irving will miss due to NYC’s vaccination requirement. – 5:08 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Dunc’d On Prime: Simmons, Kyrie, and the Rest of the News
Listen by becoming a member and you’ll get our 5 subscription pods/week. Subscribe: duncdon.supportingcast.fm pic.twitter.com/1cIOnWs6Fc – 4:30 PM

Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Harden was asked if the Nets can make it work with only having Irving on the road and essentially said it would be on them to figure out. – 1:55 PM

Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
James Harden said he wants Kyrie Irving to be a part of the team and adds he’s a huge part of what makes them scary. Hasn’t spoken to him on the vaccine, but would like to see the situation resolved. Irving has his support. – 1:55 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Excited to be talking NBA again every week with Corey Robinson. This week we had to talk COVID implications and Ben Simmons drama, but also got into is so much more
How will new faces fit in new places?; Kyrie could upend Brooklyn Nets |… youtu.be/XHO6kcd7rT4 via @YouTube – 1:54 PM

Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
James Harden said Cam Thomas reminds him of himself, but Thomas is a better scorer than he was coming out of ASU. Harden was Thomas’ favorite player growing up and The Beard said he can see where Thomas has tried to take parts of his game and put it into his own. – 1:51 PM

Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
James Harden on getting to play in Barclays Center again this season: “Lit…..LIT!” – 1:43 PM

Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Asked about the new vaccine mandate in Los Angeles, which would potentially make it 45 games Kyrie Irving can’t play in, Steve Nash said he’s not thinking about that right now. – 12:53 PM

Chris Broussard @Chris_Broussard
Was it really Nagy’s call to start Fields? Is Urban still hireable at the college level? Can the Nets let Kyrie be a part-time player? #LAvsSTL & more! Guests: @36westbrook @FANalyst1
Catch us live weeknights 7-10p ET on @FoxSportsRadio & @iHeartRadio podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… – 12:52 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Dunc’d On Prime: Simmons, Kyrie, and the Rest of the News
Listen by becoming a member and you’ll get our 5 subscription pods/week. Subscribe: duncdon.supportingcast.fm pic.twitter.com/NywYy9x3Qu – 12:30 PM

Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
#Nets quietly having strong training camp despite Kyrie Irving drama nypost.com/2021/10/07/net… via @nypostsports – 12:06 PM

Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
New feature on the Brooklyn Nets, the challenges of dealing with the Kyrie Irving situation, the benefits of depth, and the goal of trying to contend while building something sustainable: theringer.com/2021/10/7/2271… – 11:24 AM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
NBA top 15 wing rankings for 2021-22: Kevin Durant leads pack; LeBron James, James Harden round out top three
cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-t… pic.twitter.com/P6O6LT9UPk – 10:06 AM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Dunc’d On Prime: Simmons, Kyrie, and the Rest of the News
Listen by becoming a member and you’ll get our 5 subscription pods/week. Subscribe: duncdon.supportingcast.fm pic.twitter.com/nVpBWCkqCh – 9:30 AM

Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
Lowe Post podcast: @Bill Simmons + I preview the NBA season: Would Nets still be favored w/o Kyrie? Which powers are at play-in risk? New potential rivalries, stars under pressure, Ben Simmons/sneaky trade targets:
Apple: apple.co/3uMWsoO
Spotify: spoti.fi/3lhApmV – 9:27 AM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“It’s extremely difficult in the locker room.”
🔊 @Mark Jackson tells @TermineRadio & @Eddie Johnson how we would handle the Kyrie Irving situation as a teammate and what the next steps will be in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/rPU25CAEkq – 9:00 AM

Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
The Houston Rockets waived Khyri Thomas. That will free up HOU to acquire Sekou Doumbouya using the James Harden TPE. That will create a TPE for the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Edmond Sumner from the Indiana Pacers. Then the Pacers can sign Brad Wanamaker.
NBA transaction dominoes! – 12:30 PM

Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
What the Rockets’ haul for James Harden has become:
Dante Exum
Daniel Theis
2022 Brooklyn first
2023 Brooklyn first swap
2023 Milwaukee first
2024 Brooklyn first
2025 Brooklyn swap
2026 Brooklyn first
2027 Brooklyn swap
2024 Brooklyn second – 10:18 PM

Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Since the Rockets used the trade exception acquired from the James trade, add that 2024 Brooklyn second to Houston’s haul for Harden. – 9:40 PM

Quinton Mayo @RealQuintonMayo
[Thread] The GM survey dropped this AM☀️
Here’s every Washington Wizard appearance:
• Bradley Beal received votes for best SG in the NBA — Last year he was second to James Harden
• 14% of GMs believe Spencer Dinwiddie was the most underrated off-season acquisition
1/ – 10:58 AM

Brad Townsend @townbrad
NBA.com‘s annual GM survey has been released. Six players earned votes for most likely to win MVP: Kevin Durant (37%), Luka Doncic (33%), Giannis Antetokounmpo (13%), Joel Embiid, (7%), James Harden (7%) and Stephen Curry (3%). – 10:06 AM

More on this storyline

Sean Marks told Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer that while the issue may be roiling social media, he believes his team is doing just fine, thank you very much. “It’s definitely out in the Twitterverse more than it is in our locker room, without a doubt,” Marks said. “All I can tell you is what he’s told everybody: It’s a private matter, and he needs to talk to the right people and figure out in his close circle what he wants to do.” “It’ll work itself out, however it works,” Harden added, offering some optimism. “For us, it’s just keep chopping wood, keep treading water. Every single day we focus on things we can control, things that we can get better at. Our focus tomorrow is for us as a team, myself, Kevin and the entire organization is getting better tomorrow in the preseason game, and after that, every single day. Whatever happens, happens. But we’ve got to focus on what we can control.” -via NetsDaily / October 8, 2021

Of course on Friday, Irving’s private decisions becomes a public matter with his first missed game … and first missed paycheck, $381,000. More and more questions will be raised about when Irving might get vaccinated or give a steadfast no to the vaccine. That hasn’t happened yet. Harden, who said he hasn’t spoken to his backcourt mate about his stand, was asked if he was disappointed. “It’s not disappointing at all. It’s not disappointing,” he said. “Kai believes in what he believes in. His family is behind him, we’re behind him. That’s all that it is.” -via NetsDaily / October 8, 2021

Kyrie Irving’s status in the league is no secret to anyone. Unless Irving changes his stance about getting vaccinated against COVID-19, the Brooklyn Nets guard will miss all of the Nets’ home games this season. It’s a big blow to a team with legitimate championship aspirations this season. At least one segment in the Nets organization seems to have resigned to life without Kyrie in the Barclays Center. A recent tweet has circulated amongst Nets fans, showing the team’s promotional emails. Noticeably, Irving is missing from some of these emails. How curious… (via The Glue Guys) -via Clutch Points / October 8, 2021