Kyrie Irving Comes Clean on Past Rumors of Dislike Playing Alongside LeBron James

Mavs star Kyrie Irving clarified various issues involving the Cavs and his former teammate LeBron James on his latest Livestream.

Kyrie Irving Comes Clean on Past Rumors of Dislike Playing Alongside LeBron James

Kyrie Irving (Image by FirstSportz)

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It was the 2011 NBA draft when Kyrie Irving entered the league as a young rookie, signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick. Since then, Irving has gone on to create a legacy alongside NBA legend LeBron James with the Cavs, winning the 2016 NBA title. However, Irving recently revealed an interesting insight regarding his decision to leave James and the Cavs behind.

As Irving left, it sent a lot of noise and questions regarding his departure. Some went as far as to claim that Irving did not enjoy playing alongside James. Meanwhile, others claimed that the star was not happy with how the Cavaliers treated him throughout his tenure in Cleveland.

To put all these rumors to bed, Irving recently touched on this matter and provided a clear statement that James had nothing to do with his departure. In addition, Irving also claimed that he wanted to gain more control over his career and make his own decisions and not at the expense of anyone.

I would have loved to choose the franchise I wanted to go to… It’s not that I dislike playing with Bron at any time. It was just literally my time to move on.

Kyrie Irving said on his livestream

Irving’s statements come in regard to his 2011 draft pick. He claimed that he wanted to go to a different team rather than the Cavs in the first place to play alongside his favorite players, as he mentioned above. In another world, it would have been a different case all along for the current Dallas Mavericks star. But Irving did have some great memories alongside LeBron James with the Cavaliers.

Winning the 2016 NBA title will always go down as one of the historic NBA finals the league has witnessed. To this date, James and Irving still have a close relationship. His departure did not hamper their brotherly bond, with the two often spotted greeting each other before their respective games against each other.

Right now, Irving has recently been recuperating from an ACL tear he suffered near the end of the season. As of yet, there is no definitive timeline set for Irving’s comeback to the court.

Kyrie Irving made an honest assessment regarding the Cavs’ NBA Finals runs alongside LeBron James

As much as Kyrie Irving wanted to select his own team as a rookie in 2011, his move to the Cleveland Cavaliers was not all shabby. He grew in Cleveland as a player, gaining immense experience alongside LeBron James.

Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving (Credits: MARCA)

Irving also said that while his scoring garnered immense attention early in his career, his main motive was always to win. He opened up on this during his livestream, providing different insights regarding how winning shaped his identity as a player, especially at the Cavs.

I’ve won a lot of games; I’ve lost a lot of games; I’ve been to the finals; I’ve won in the finals; I’ve lost in the finals multiple times. For me, I’m happy with getting the chance to play with good teams, but when you guys make it about one player, it is kinda weird.

Kyrie Irving said on his livestream

Irving has had his fair share of controversies throughout his NBA career, but this has never hampered his bond with James. In 2016, the two made history for the Cavs, clawing back from a 3–1 deficit against the 73–9 Warriors to capture the franchise’s first championship.

For the controversial player, a nine-time All-Star, playing alongside James at the Cavs caps a long-lasting memory for him and an unforgettable one. It was the brightest lights, the loudest headlines, and a legacy forever sealed in the roar of the crowd.

A former NBA player provided a fascinating insight regarding Kyrie Irving’s work ethic

When Kyrie Irving broke onto the NBA stage, many claimed his ball handling and shooting as a God-given talent. But what people do not see is the hard work the NBA veteran has put in all over his career, something that former NBA big man Daniel Theis has witnessed firsthand. Theis opened up on this in an interview with Euro Insiders.

I remember my first year with Kyrie. Everyone thinks he’s, obviously, it’s a God-given talent, but all his finishes [are] left, right. He worked on this every day. He stands in the gym by himself doing all these left-hand, top-of-the-backboard finishes every day.

Daniel Theis told Euro Insiders

This is what sets guys like James Harden and Kyrie Irving apart from the rest of the pack, the former big man stated simply. It’s the aspect of the game that spectators hardly ever see. Not many legends become well-known right away. The great ones? Long before the cameras start rolling, they are made in deserted gyms.

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