Nets’ Jacque Vaughn on Kyrie Irving’s trade request: ‘I think you have responsibilities as a basketball player’

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn addressed reporters before the team’s game against the Wizards on Saturday and answered questions about Kyrie Irving’s trade request. Here’s what you need to know:

• When asked if he felt Irving was letting Brooklyn down, Vaughn said, “I think you have the same responsibility as a basketball player that I have as a coach. I show up, I do my job every day. I signed up for this. And those are my expectations for one through 17.”
• Nets center Nic Claxton shared that he learned about the request by waking up from a nap and speaking to Irving on Friday.
• Irving informed the franchise on Friday and said he prefers to leave Brooklyn before the Feb. 9 trade deadline — or he will leave via free agency in July.

What you say

Vaughn on speaking with the team about Irving’s request: “Yesterday I touched base with every single player. That was a day for me to get what you need and mine was to talk to every single player. I’m not going to speculate on things that are out there that have been reported. Hopefully my job is to stay consistent. I hope I was like that with you and our group. And I got in touch with every single one of our guys yesterday.”

Vaughn continued when he asked Irving why: “There’s a business side to this thing and a human side to this thing. I chose to touch the human side and examine him as an individual. I’ll leave the business side to (General Manager) Sean (Marks) and this group.”

Claxton on hearing the news: “I was taking a nap and I looked into one of my group chats and I saw it and I was like, ‘Wow.’ Just caught me unprepared. But it is what it is.”

Claxton on Irving letting the team down: “I mean, at the end of the day we’re all our own individuals and we have to do what’s best for us. If a grown man thinks that’s best, then it’s best for him. I can’t judge anyone for what they want to do.”

required reading

(Photo: Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)