'Miss my hermano' – Irving 'grieving' after Doncic trade to Lakers

Kyrie Irving has revealed he is still in the "grieving process" following Luka Doncic's blockbuster trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Irving scored 34 points and Naji Marshall added 19 more against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, but that did not stop the Mavs from falling to 0-2 since trading the face of their franchise away last Sunday.

Joel Embiid starred for the 76ers, recording 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on his return from injury in a 118-116 win, improving Philadelphia to 20-29 for the season.

After Tuesday’s defeat, the Mavericks have a 26-25 record and sit outside the Western Conference playoff spots, but much of the talk was not about their latest loss.

Instead, Irving was asked about Doncic's trade to the Lakers, which saw Anthony Davis and Max Christie go the other way, as well as the Mavs getting a first-round draft pick for 2029.

"Just really shocked," Irving said. "You just don't imagine you're going to get ready to go to sleep, and then you find out news like that.

"It's still a grieving process right now. I miss my hermano. This is a business, it's way above my pay grade.

"I've just got to adjust and be ready to welcome in my new team-mates with open arms and kind of be ready to go back to Dallas, too, to speak in front of our fans.

"I know they are feeling it, too. I'm feeling it too, guys. So, yeah, it's just an adjustment period. I don't want to downplay this either, or disrespect our new guys.

"They're going to help us win, and help us build toward a championship, but just like everyone else at home, when you kind of see it from afar, it hurts."

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The 32-year-old also acknowledged that while the trade was shocking, such moves are part of life in the NBA.

"This is a weird case in NBA history to be a part of, but at the same time, it's the nature of our business, and it is a ruthless business," Irving said.

"So you've got to be ready to pick up the pieces and run towards the championship.

"That's the ultimate goal and why I play, and having other guys that are championship winners, too, helps.

"But at the same time, we still have to acknowledge our little Slovenian president is no longer here, and we've got to adjust."

The Mavericks head to Boston for an NBA Finals rematch with the Celtics on Thursday, as they look to notch their first win since Doncic's departure.

But now the shock of the trade is beginning to wear off, Irving thinks the talent is in place for Dallas to make another deep playoff run this year.

"We're putting the pieces together," he said. "And the tone is improving, just because everybody had questions, a little confusion, and that's about it.

"We're just talking to each other, making sure we're all good, and putting the game first and in a capacity where we can prepare and then off the court in practices and some dinners that we'll have, make sure we connect and make sure we do all the things to have the qualities of a championship team.

"So, the same vision, just guys in the locker room are a little bit different. We're going to have to adjust, but we'll be fine."