{"id":144413,"date":"2025-06-12T08:39:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T12:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=144413"},"modified":"2025-06-12T08:39:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T12:39:39","slug":"kyrie-irvings-busy-offseason-set-to-get-busier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/12\/kyrie-irvings-busy-offseason-set-to-get-busier\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyrie Irving\u2019s Busy Offseason Set To Get Busier"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>DALLAS<\/strong> \u2013 <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/irvinky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyrie Irving<\/a> rarely has a quiet offseason. This summer, the star <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/mavericks\/\" target=\"_self\">Dallas Mavericks<\/a> guard may have outdone himself. In a casual livestream, Irving asked a member of FaZe Clan if he could join their team. The moment felt light, spontaneous\u2014even charmingly awkward. \u201cI was wondering if y\u2019all are taking applications,\u201d Irving <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/scubaryan_\/status\/1932635872563810310?t=9Xm7IjVkSLz9uXScgYSEYQ&amp;s=19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a>, revealing uncertainty about how recruitment works.<\/p>\n<h2>Kyrie Irving\u2019s Busy Offseason Set To Get Busier<\/h2>\n<p>FaZe Clan responded quickly. The group posted an image of Irving in FaZe gear on X, formerly Twitter. While nothing is official, the interaction added another wrinkle to the Kyrie Irving offseason. His interest in gaming and streaming is no secret. This recent outreach to FaZe highlights a growing connection between NBA stars and the esports world.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Welcome <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KyrieIrving?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@KyrieIrving<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iVA10dpEFx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/iVA10dpEFx<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BMMYod1f9j\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/BMMYod1f9j<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FaZe Clan (@FaZeClan) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FaZeClan\/status\/1932638850264019379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>A Loyal Friend Defends His Own<\/h3>\n<p>Irving\u2019s stream was more than just a playful pitch. He used the platform to defend a longtime friend, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/timberwolves\/\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> star <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/townska01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a>. Irving didn\u2019t mince words. He told viewers to stop mocking Towns for \u201cchanging up his tone\u201d in interviews.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kyrie defends Karl-Anthony Towns \ud83e\udd1d (via kyrieirving\/Twitch)\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/68rfDv_71IA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cStop making fun of my brother KAT,\u201d Irving said. \u201cIt\u2019s a wrap.\u201d His message was direct, even emotional. He warned against turning his friend into a meme, vowing to \u201cattack\u201d those who spread ridicule\u2014though he quickly clarified the attack would be metaphorical, not physical.<\/p>\n<p>Irving\u2019s fierce defense came with context. Both he and Towns grew up in New Jersey, a state Irving described as small but culturally rich. \u201cJersey is literally 130 miles long,\u201d he said, \u201cbut you gotta survive out here.\u201d According to Irving, those mocking Towns don\u2019t understand the environment they came from\u2014one filled with different cultures, pressures, and expectations.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s great to see that Kyrie Irving is in the right head space this offseason. Dealing with an ACL injury can be mentally draining for superstars. They are used to playing regularly so when the recovery process requires months away from the game they love, it could be a profound loss.<\/p>\n<h3>Uncertainty in Dallas<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144418\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-144418\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144418\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25572580_168415934_lowres-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Kyrie Irving\u2019s acl injury could affect his offseason in the form of contract discussions \" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25572580_168415934_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25572580_168415934_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25572580_168415934_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25572580_168415934_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25572580_168415934_lowres-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25572580_168415934_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25572580_168415934_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-144418\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mar 3, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) is helped off the court by forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Off the court, Irving\u2019s summer includes crucial decisions about his NBA future. He holds a $44 million player option for the 2025-26 season. The deadline to accept or decline that option is June 24. What Irving chooses could reshape the Mavericks\u2019 future.<\/p>\n<p>Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein <a  href=\"https:\/\/hoopshype.com\/2025\/06\/11\/stein-i-havent-heard-one-scenario-presented-where-kyrie-irving-ends-up-with-another-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recently said<\/a> he doesn\u2019t hear any serious scenarios where Irving leaves Dallas. But that doesn\u2019t mean all is settled. Dallas plans to offer Irving a three-year extension in the $40 million per year range.<\/p>\n<p>Now, everything could be in flux. With <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> now on the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/lakers\/\" target=\"_self\">Lakers<\/a>, Irving is the Mavericks\u2019 only elite guard. That fact raises his value. Yet questions linger about whether he can carry the team alone, especially at his price tag. \u201cPredicting how this plays out\u2014I wish I was that smart,\u201d Stein admitted.<\/p>\n<h3>Offseason With Many Layers<\/h3>\n<p>Kyrie Irving\u2019s offseason has already mixed entertainment, loyalty, and business. Whether it\u2019s applying to join FaZe Clan or defending\u00a0 Towns, Irving stays busy\u2014and unapologetically vocal. He has blurred the lines between athlete, celebrity, and cultural commentator.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, his next NBA contract looms. The Mavericks hope to keep him in Dallas for the long term, likely through an extension. But all eyes remain on June 24, when he must make his first major move.<\/p>\n<p>The game\u2014and the millions tied to it\u2014hang in the balance. His offseason may feel busy already. But the most important days are yet to come.<\/p>\n<p><label>Credit: <\/label>\u00a9 Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DALLAS \u2013 Kyrie Irving rarely has a quiet offseason. This summer, the star Dallas Mavericks guard may have outdone himself. In a casual livestream, Irving asked a member of FaZe Clan if he could join their team. The moment felt light, spontaneous\u2014even charmingly awkward. \u201cI was wondering if y\u2019all are taking applications,\u201d Irving said, revealing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":144417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,30,3],"tags":[50219,213,406,3011,2113,4975,4745],"class_list":["post-144413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-mavericks","category-news","tag-2025-nba-free-agents","tag-karl-anthony-towns","tag-kyrie-irving","tag-marc-stein","tag-nba-contract-extension","tag-nba-contracts","tag-nba-injuries"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144413"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144420,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144413\/revisions\/144420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}