Irving reveals the real reason for the Nets’ Big Three breakup

The Brooklyn Nets’ “Big Three” was once the NBA’s most dominant lineup on paper: Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. With these three superstars, their offensive firepower was considered historic. However, just a few years later, the team disintegrated, ultimately failing to win a championship, leaving fans with only regret and speculation.

made a rare statement during a live broadcast , specifically revealing the four fundamental reasons that led to the disintegration of the Nets’ Big Three .

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1. Management’s attitude: They only want Durant

Irving bluntly admitted that the Nets management didn’t even proactively meet with him before he joined.
“They didn’t want me, they only wanted KD.”
For an NBA superstar, this was a serious disrespect . This cold attitude sowed the seeds for the subsequent rift within the team.

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2. Brotherhood with Durant

Despite facing management’s disapproval, Irving decided to join Brooklyn.
The reason was simple: he had already reached a consensus with Durant. Even when Durant was recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon , Irving didn’t abandon him.
“I just wanted to play with KD.”
This decision may seem romantic, but it also meant that Irving was burdened from the outset with the potential for ideological differences with management.

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3. Harden’s sudden turn

Irving revealed that the day before Harden requested a trade, he told the Beard,
“Brother, we’re going to win a championship.”
Unexpectedly, Harden took the initiative to request a trade the next day.
This not only shocked Irving, but also instantly broke the trust between the entire Big Three.

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4. The loss of a key coach: The Udoka betrayal effect

Irving believes the final straw was the Nets management’s decision to allow assistant coach Udoka to leave for the Celtics.
He considered this a crucial mistake:
“Udoka knows all our plays.”
Sure enough, in the first round of the 2022 playoffs, the Nets were swept 4-0 by the Celtics. Irving admits that at that moment, he knew they couldn’t beat the Celtics. The future of the Big Three came to an end.

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Conclusion

Irving’s livestream revelations undoubtedly revealed another side to the “mystery of the Big Three’s failure.” While seemingly fraught with injuries, synergy, and tactical issues, underlying issues lie deeper conflicts of
respect, trust, and management decision-making . From being “unwanted” to “brotherly feuds” to “strategic leaks,” the Nets’ Big Three’s breakup seemed destined for inevitable tragedy.