"Kyrie stepped over the line," Knight said. "It's kind of that simple. He made some statements that we just can't abide by and that's why we ended the relationship. And I was fine with that."
The sneakers of Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets are seen during the game against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on Jan. 31, 2020, in New York City. Irving initially defended his right to post what he wanted on social media and wasn’t suspended until about a week later once the scrutiny on the Nets got hotter. In the midst of that, the team parted ways with Steve Nash and were rumored to be set on hiring suspended coach Ime Udoka from the Boston Celtics before ultimately choosing Jacques Vaughn.
"We look at who we sign and how much we pay and we look not only at how good the athlete is but what his or her character are," Knight added. "It's not an exact science, but it's a process that we go through with a lot of intensity and with a lot of people sticking their hand in it." Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets brings the ball up the court against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on Nov. 1, 2022, in New York City.