Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently expressed deep admiration for Dallas Mavericks player Kyrie Irving, calling him “the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen” on the Mind the Game podcast. James also candidly shared his frustration over no longer being teammates with Irving, highlighting a past rift that had cooled their relationship for years.
“I'm so f*cking mad that I am not his running mate anymore… He's the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen.”
– LeBron James on Kyrie Irving
(Via @mindthegamepod / h/t @ClutchPoints )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 4, 2024
The backstory of their strained relationship stems from Irving’s request to be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, a move that led to a significant period where the two barely communicated. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst detailed on the Get Up show how their relationship deteriorated after Irving’s departure from Cleveland, but noted that in recent years, the two stars have mended their friendship.
Windhorst revealed that LeBron had been keen on reuniting with Irving, pushing the Lakers to attempt a trade for him on multiple occasions. The Lakers made a competitive offer to acquire Irving at the trade deadline last year; however, the Mavericks presented a better deal, leading to Irving’s move to Dallas instead of Los Angeles.
Kyrie Irving's initial reaction to his first question at NBA Finals media day being on LeBron James' comment from yesterday
pic.twitter.com/O9IXEJPYMJ
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) June 5, 2024
Irving’s time in Dallas started off rocky but eventually stabilized, helping propel the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals where they are set to face the Boston Celtics. Despite the Lakers having a chance to sign Irving in the last offseason when he was a free agent, they chose to prioritize other signings that contributed to their Western Conference Finals appearance, leaving Irving to re-sign with the Mavericks.
Kyrie Irving responds to LeBron James’ recent comments about him being the most “gifted” basketball player in NBA history: pic.twitter.com/UmWc54Tct1
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) June 5, 2024
While Windhorst speculated that the chances of Irving and James playing together again are slim, he didn’t completely rule out the possibility, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the NBA. This ongoing narrative underscores the complex dynamics of player relationships and team strategies in professional sports.
Major Points
- LeBron James recently praised Kyrie Irving on the Mind the Game podcast, calling him “the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen” and expressing regret that they are no longer teammates.
- Their relationship soured when Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, leading to years of minimal communication between the two stars.
- Over the past few years, James and Irving have reconciled, with James advocating for the Lakers to trade for Irving on multiple occasions.
- The Lakers attempted to acquire Irving at the trade deadline last year, but Dallas made a better offer, leading Irving to join the Mavericks.
- Irving has since found success with Dallas, leading the team to the 2024 NBA Finals, while the possibility of him reuniting with James remains uncertain, though not entirely ruled out.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News