BOSTON — Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving couldn’t help but flash an incredulous smile when, on the eve of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the first question that came his way Wednesday was about a former teammate rather than his current Finals foe.
Then again, LeBron James isn’t just any teammate.
“Is that the first question?” Irving said when asked about James’ recent podcast comments stating he is “f—ing mad” to not be teaming up with the eight-time All-Star any longer. “Oh, God, I love it. Got to love this, man.”
More questions about other former teammates of Irving’s on the Boston Celtics followed, of course. Boston was the point guard’s landing spot after he was traded away from James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in summer 2017.
But the first order of business was James, whom he teamed up with for three seasons from 2014 to 2017 and made three straight trips to the Finals, winning it all together in 2016 in a memorable seven-game series against a record-setting Golden State Warriors team that went 73-9 in the regular season.
Irving said he “appreciated” James’ sentiments on his “Mind the Game” podcast with JJ Redick, when James lauded the former No. 1 pick as “the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen.”
And seven years after playing together, Irving, 32, said his relationship with the 39-year-old James has only flourished.
“Obviously, I’m in a different age, different place in my life. So is he. I think we both have been able to mature and really appreciate what we got a chance to accomplish,” Irving said. “I think there were some things that got in the way of our relationship when I was a little bit younger. Now that I’m able to vocalize how I feel as a man, be comfortable in it, stand on my square, my beliefs, where I’m coming from, I feel like our relationship’s different because of that now.”
Irving, who was traded to Dallas from the Brooklyn Nets last season after James’ Los Angeles Lakers made a run at acquiring him, reciprocated the wistfulness.
“Definitely miss him,” Irving said. “Man, when he says comments like that, I think back to us having those moments where we’re down in a series, up in a series, we’re really demanding greatness from each other. Off the court, our families meshing well. … I definitely think about those times.”
James and Irving’s Cavs became the first team in to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals in 2016. Game 5 of that series, the first of their three straight wins to close it out, was also historic as James and Irving became the first teammates ever to both score 40-plus points in the same Finals game.
All of the success they shared, however, left the then-25-year-old Irving feeling incomplete. Sources told ESPN that during Irving’s last postseason run with the Cavs in 2017, he went consecutive days in between playoff series reporting to the team’s practice facility without speaking to any teammates.
It was something Irving indirectly acknowledged when asked about the ups and downs he has experienced since requesting a trade out of Cleveland to finally finding a comfort zone all these years later with the Mavs.
“Basketball has been a great teacher for me, but life has been an even better one,” Irving said. “Using those same principles I’ve learned in life apply to basketball has allowed me to connect to my teammates better. There’s no silent treatment that’s coming randomly throughout the year because I don’t know how to emotionalize or vocalize how I’m feeling. Some of the things I struggled with as a young player, I’ve now been able to accept this is what comes with being in this position. Taking on the pressure. Then also teaching my teammates how to get through it.”
It’s the same role that James took on with him.
“Now we’re here in the present where we’re able to reflect, but also now I’m at this stage, able to use some of the formulas that I was taught from [James], some of the great teachers that have come before me,” Irving said. “I feel like I’ve been built for this moment because I’ve gone through some of the things I’ve gone through in my past with some of the guys that have transcended the game.”
And Irving had one more compliment for the league’s all-time leading scorer.
“Shoutout to LeBron for that,” Irving said. “Knows how to stir up a media storm, get everybody in here talking about us.”