After weeks of boycotting the media and calling them pawns — getting fined in the process — Kyrie Irving finally spoke to the press on Monday. And in a wide-ranging interview, he talked about finally playing alongside Kevin Durant, the disappointment of his injury woes and even his relationship with the press.

Sunday’s preseason opener marked Irving’s first action since Feb. 1 due to shoulder surgery. The Nets guard looked stellar with a team-high 18 points and four assists in just 17 minutes, but declined postgame interview requests. When asked why Monday by The Post, he in essence implied he wanted a safe space.

“The focus is on what’s going on in here, my job,” Irving said. “And I wanted to make sure that that was clear: No distractions, nothing about dispelling anything, nothing about going back-and-forth, nor about calling out one person or another, not even to refer to you guys as pawns, or media.”

The pawns comment referred to Irving’s reaction to being fined $25,000 by the NBA for flouting its media policies, when he said on Instagram: “I pray we utilize the ‘fine money’ for the marginalized communities in need, especially seeing where our world is presently…I do not talk to Pawns.”

On Monday, Irving clarified those comments, as well as others.

“It’s just really how I felt about the mistreatment of certain artists when we get to a platform of when we make decisions within our lives to have full control and ownership,” Irving said. “We go through the rigorous season, we do everything we’re asked to do, and we want to perform in a secure and protected space.”

Irving appeared in good spirits in his first interaction with the press since his injury last season, only having spoken on social media, through statements and on Durant’s ETCs podcast.

Both Irving and Durant looked impressive in their returns, Durant 18 months after rupturing his Achilles and Irving following a 10-month layoff.

“It’s not the first time I had a significant injury, where I’ve been out a long period of time,” Irving admitted. “So I’ve had to build myself back up quite a few times in my career: Getting hit down in 2015 Finals with my fractured kneecap and then just having minor injuries and I couldn’t really avoid the injury bug, just being able to play a high level for a system at a time.

“And it was very disappointing. Having disappointing seasons the last few years hasn’t necessarily been the best reflection that I wanted to put out. But it’s a different show. It was a different stage and it’s a new beginning in terms of what we’re building and moving forward with the pieces that we have here. And that includes 7-11, so get to know us.”

Irving missed 26 games in his lone year at Duke, and another 184 regular-season NBA tilts, including 52 in his Nets debut campaign. But he was impressive in Sunday’s comeback, looking spry and athletic.

“Kyrie looked incredible. He was unstoppable,” Durant said.

“I was like wow, he’s a little more explosive than I thought,” said Steve Nash, who made his coaching debut Sunday. “I thought he was an excellent athlete; but more so excellent in his mobility and how dynamic of a mover [he was]. He’s an amazing mover. … I always knew [Kyrie] was a great athlete and incredibly mobile and such a versatile, gifted mover; but he’s actually more explosive than I thought, which is impressive.”

Nash — who said he never spoke with Irving about his media boycott — has left Irving impressed as well. After Irving raised eyebrows in October by saying on Durant’s podcast “I don’t really see us as having a head coach,” the guard amended that.

“Steve’s been amazing … he commands the respect,” said Irving, adding with a sheepish laugh, “I think I’ve got to take back my comments in terms of the head coach back a few months ago … we have such a great synergy. Everyone feels like we’re coaching one another to be better, so I’m grateful for that.”

*With James Harden trying to force a trade to Brooklyn, the Nets aren’t interested in dealing Irving for him, according to ESPN.

“That part of our business is going to be what it is,” Irving said. “There’s no control that we have as players to at least manage what’s being said in terms of rumor mills and what’s being reported. Let’s just leave it at that.

“James is a great player and we wish him well. I just want him to be happy, be secure in who he is as a man first and then as a basketball player whatever happens those conversations are between them. But we’re focused on us.”