In a weird and now infamous interview, a reporter boldly asked Irving if he felt that James was like a father figure to him. Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has shown the characteristics of being one of these people. In the video, a slightly stunned Irving shakes his head and laughs off the interviewer's question to James about his play. Many fans were thrilled at James' return to the Cavs, and sports critics were prepared to see which teammates (Irving and Kevin Love, per Sports Illustrated) would help James lead the team to their first and only NBA title. He has learned from those mistakes and now he’ll use his mistakes to guide the next generation of players in the right direction. It was a recipe for a little hostility which would rear its head during and after they both left the team. It’s not on me to lead the group by myself and be the hero that everybody wants to — because that’s what America is. I’ve had to accept that, too. “It’s just the balance of leadership, and there isn’t one leader. February 18, 2021 Kyrie Irving had LeBron James looking for a map on Thursday. “That’s been the most beautiful part, just to learn. James was left stranded after … N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg “I mean this is a pretty obvious … James was … Posted December 8, 2020. Written By. Reaction to both interviews would spark rumors of an apparent beef between them and lots of speculation on how Irving viewed James as the face of the team again. In 2020, Irving left the Celtics to join star player Kevin Durant on the Brooklyn Nets. Now in his new role with the Nets, Irving is a 10-year veteran, with a lot of experience under his belt. “I’m grateful to be in this position to set a better example now than I did then. In the press interview after with Irving seated beside him, posted on YouTube, James' critique of his team was all-encompassing this time around, rather than solely on Irving. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/kyrie-irving-lebron-james-free-throw-nets-lakers The pressure to lead not only himself but his new teammates on that journey came with expectations he didn't foresee. Dec. 8, 2020 10:06 AM PT . But, was it? Kyrie Irving got the better of LeBron James in their matchup despite the latter’s 32-point outing. The conversation about the Cavs' 102-100 loss would follow them again the following year, when Irving would once again clock in zero assists in a game loss to the Chicago Bulls. Irving, who was once in that spotlight, saw it slowly diminish. Me and Kyrie are in a good place right now,” LeBron told Joe Vardon of The Athletic via Slam.”, “I love the man that he’s becoming, I love the challenges he’s accepted and I always wish the best for him.”. James was the superstar NBA player fresh off of two NBA Finals wins, and Irving was in his fourth season and the Cavs star player prior to James' comeback. James' leadership of the Cavs was welcomed by many. With the Cavaliers, he found Kyrie Irving, who is now one of the best in the league. "There's a lot of bad habits; a lot of bad habits have been built up over the last couple of years, and when you play that style of basketball it takes a lot to get it up out of you," said James. "I tried to do whatever I could do to help the kid out, and so he could be the best player he could be. Kyrie Irving Mocks LeBron James For Missing Free Throw During Nets-Lakers Game. Kyrie Irving’s Bold Message For LeBron James, Lakers The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 109-98 on Thursday night. You're … Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said he had to pause once he heard recent comments from former teammate Kyrie Irving that seemingly questioned James' late-game clutch … I take accountability for not necessarily stepping up to the plate or stepping up to the responsibility for my own actions,” Irving said via Nets Wire. By Marenah Dobin / Nov. 2, 2020 11:15 am EST Kyrie Irving and LeBron James won an NBA championship together in 2016, just two years after they started playing together for the … I didn’t offer that access to a lot of people,” Irving said. I post amazing, breathtaking mixtapes for you guys because you guys are DOPE. "It was a big deal for me because I had to call Bron and tell him like 'I apologize for being that young player that wanted everything at his fingertips.' Former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have somewhat of a bewildering relationship. I tried to give him everything...at some point when he was ready to take over the keys, I was ready to give them to him," said James (via ESPN). Kyrie Irving is … He also believes … That’s the growth, so I’m just more excited about that than anything. Back in September, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant recorded a podcast on KD’s “Etcs” in which Irving tried to compliment Durant. Kyrie Irving is undoubtedly one of the best talents in the NBA right now, but his ability to lead a team has always been questioned since his days in Cleveland. READ NEXT: Joel Embiid’s New Go-To Move Should Have Nets’ Fans Terrified [Watch], Unlock the latest Brooklyn Nets news, James returned to the Ohio franchise in 2014 after previously leaving for the Miami Heat, and it was only a matter of time before the NBA star player started to overshadow members of the existing Cavaliers, particularly the team's point guard and latest star: Kyrie Irving. Apart from the showdown between the two strong teams, the match was also a clash between two former teammates- Kyrie Irving and LeBron James… A lot of fans saw Irving's comment as a slight against James — who was the biggest star player Irving has played alongside on the same team and arguably someone who was far from fearful of making crucial final second shots. In a press interview, James critiqued Irving's lack of assists and said his method of play would not do the team any favors (via ESPN). “Even when you’re tired, even when you’re having good days, bad days. LeBron James & Kyrie Irving's Best Moments Together as Cleveland CavaliersROAD TO 50K!!!! Of course, they would meet again on the court as they always did, and most recently it seems like the beef keeps on giving. “It’s been great to be able to be around him, be in the locker room with him, get to know him as a person — not just a basketball player, but a person,” Shamet said via NBA.com, “I know he believes in all of his teammates and he wants the best for all of us.”. LeBron James, left, and Kyrie Irving played together for three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The experience led him to admitting some regrets and giving his old teammate a call in 2019, who by then had also left the Cavs and went to play for the Lakers. LeBron James & Kyrie Irving 2016/17 Season Mixtape. During the game, Kyrie Irving pulled off an incredible spin move to score against LeBron James and the Lakers. As a guest on Kevin Durant's podcast, Irving said he was excited to play with Durant because it … During the Nets’ 109-98 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, Irving seized the moment and … Powered by. Former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have somewhat of a bewildering relationship. "There were a lot of people speaking for me, on my behalf, who didn't know who I was…in Cleveland and in Boston", Kyrie Irving talks about what he's learned about leadership during his time with the Cavaliers & Celtics and what he's now brought to Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/k0dIR80nf0, — Nets Videos (@SNYNets) February 26, 2021. Reaction was swift, and of course, many wondered what the conversation between Irving and James was like ahead of his decision. Despite Irving and LeBron’s reported rift, the four-time champion insisted that they were on good terms back in 2019. Devika Pawar. The odd relationship between LeBron James and Kyrie Irving would follow into the next year. The odd question shocked Irving and fans, given that a seven-year difference between the two (James being older) isn't significant enough for one to view them as such. He would later tell the media, James served him a lecture about his play, reported CBS Sports. “I had a lot to do with the success and failures of the teams that I was on. In Boston, he was the team's star point guard and was expected to lead them to the finals. Because LA was without Anthony Davis and Brooklyn … Irving apparently began to grow weary of taking the blame for some of the team's failures, and James getting the credit for the wins, reported The Undefeated. Getty Image. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press) By Dan Woike Staff Writer . “There were a lot of people speaking for me, or speaking on my behalf, who didn’t really know who I was. After their 2016 win however, critics would continue stoking the fire of their alleged "beef" with questions surrounding who really led the Cavs to giving the city of Cleveland its first championship in over 50 years. Kyrie: I haven't spoken to LeBron (2:15) Kyrie Irving focuses on what he learned during his three-year run as LeBron James' teammate but hasn't spoken to him since asking for a trade. After more than a few years in James' shadow, Irving left the Cavs for the Boston Celtics that year. And in response, James said he was hurt by the comments and said they could "never align." LeBron James afterward would say in an interview that he put in a lot of effort to groom Irving to take on leadership of the Cavs team. I was just trying to collapse the defense.". The two would apparently have a locker room discussion about the game, and Irving would respond to James about his playing style that night and defend himself in his own interview. Chandler. This allows him to mentor some of his younger teammates and teach them to not make the same mistakes he has in the past. undefined. And fans saw his reflection and admission as growth. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the reason that he no longer wanted to play for the Cavs was that he did not want to play with LeBron James. I wanted to be the leader. "Just taking what the defense gave me, not necessarily any calls," said Irving. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. It was an apology heard around the world. But as one could expect on any team, reports of James and Irving having some odd tension would shortly follow. Kyrie explains why he called LeBron James after finally understood what … It was also a reunion of former Cleveland Cavalier … December 28, 2020 1:13 pm Earlier this month, LeBron James admitted that he was hurt by Kyrie Irving’s comments about his ability – or inability, according to Irving – to hit clutch shots. I wanted to be the guy who led us to championships. The pair often praised each other in post-game interviews, and together would score serious points for the Cavs, eventually leading them to the Eastern Conference finals in 2015 (via NBA), before eventually winning the 2016 NBA Finals. Some credited James for the win, and some credited Irving. ↓, The Lessons Kyrie Irving Learned While in Cleveland With LeBron James, Copyright © 2021 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Nets guard Kyrie Irving admitted as much after their 109-98 win over the Lakers but added that they wanted to face LeBron James and the defending champions at full strength. It turns out, LeBron James actually heard what Irving said about Kevin Durant being the most reliable player in the clutch he’ll ever have played with. Kevin Durant (right), who will not be playing in the All-Star Game, picked Kyrie Irving and James Harden to be on Team Durant. According to Bleacher Report, in a conversation with his newest teammate, Irving said he felt that Durant was the only player that he could trust to also take a clutch shot. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James traded some jabs through the media this week. Kyrie Irving details the lessons that he learned playing in Cleveland and Boston. I wanted to be all that," Irving said via YouTube. It seems like Kyrie Irving still doesn’t like LeBron James. James, shooting just 70.4 percent from the line this season, clanked one off the rim, much to the delight of Kyrie Irving. It’s been able to translate to here with the guys that are here. But the question itself was only confirmation that many did not view their relationship dynamic on equal footing. You got to be able to galvanize the group even when it’s low and even when it’s high,” Irving said via Nets Wire. Kyrie Irving bamboozles LeBron James. Since his move to Brooklyn in 2019, Kyrie has shifted his entire mindset about what it takes to be a true leader. Irving had a highly publicized exit from both Cleveland and Boston which resulted in the media painting a negative picture of him as a team cancer. That's my dad Drederick Irving.". Joel Embiid’s New Go-To Move Should Have Nets’ Fans Terrified [Watch]. LeBron vs. Kyrie, Again: LeBron James Responds To Kyrie Irving Clutch Comments, #NBATwitter Reacts. Basketball. James returned to the Ohio franchise in 2014 after previously leaving for the Miami Heat, and it was only a matter of time before the NBA star player started to overshadow members of the existing Cavaliers, particularly the team's point guard and latest star: Kyrie Irving. "Whatever the defense was giving me, I was willing to take. They love to build you up, love to tear your [expletive] right down.”. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers posts up against Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets. On Thursday, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers faced off with the Brooklyn Nets. While it was written off as a likely joke between two old pals, it begs the question will these two ever see eye-to-eye? But he maintained that Irving's success was always a priority of his during his time on the team. rumors and exclusives — direct to your inbox. SUBSCRIBED. Irving became second fiddle on a team where he was once top dog. Because Kyrie Irving had something to say about LeBron James’ free-throw shooting after the Los Angeles Lakers star missed a technical early in the loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday … Inside The Relationship Of LeBron James And Kyrie Irving. In 2017, rumors of Kyrie Irving reportedly requesting a trade grew. James, who played with Irving for three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-17, finally addressed his former teammate’s quotes on the Road Trippin’ podcast with Richard … And he knew that this was the man who was going to help him cross the finish line for the Cavs. Even to the point where members of sports media viewed James as more of a parental figurehead, rather than a teammate. 4:13. He dominated a lot of post-game headlines, and a lot of fans expected the experienced superstar to take his fellow teammates under his wing and lead them to a championship. Getty They gave each other the cold shoulder. Kyrie Irving apologized to LeBron James after the Celtics' loss to the Magic on Saturday. The tit-for-tat continued when Irving left the Celtics and did another interview that raised eyebrows. It’s always been bigger than the game for me is what I’m saying. “Yeah, we’re in a good place right now. On the Celtics, Irving would eventually come to see what it took to have the leadership skills he once saw in James. I take my role very seriously in terms of that, and I’ve been able to learn lessons from that to give to others.”. But Irving admitted he never told James about the decision until after it was announced, per ESPN on YouTube. Getty Kyrie Irving guarding LeBron James. Posted December 8, 2020 Written By D.L. The Brooklyn … He has been a great leader for us," Irving responded, via Deadspin. How he handled the exits from Cleveland and Boston has only made Kyrie a better person in the long run. In the first year of LeBron James coming back to the Cavs, a game loss of 102-100 would kind of reveal what the pair thought of each other's game play. The bumps along the road have crafted Irving into a great player and an even better person. The Lessons Kyrie Irving Learned While in Cleveland With LeBron James Getty LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers posts up against Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets. A subsequent interview on Durant's podcast revealed something that stunned basketball fans. "I don't know how to really answer that question. Per Sporting News, in a game last month, Irving was heard teasing James after he missed a free throw shot. by Jorge Alonso February 18, 2021. Now that he has been able to have a fresh start for the third time in his career, Irving has learned from his mistakes. Leadership now is just above having fun and giving those guys energy.”. Film is an Art Form! Irving requested a trade from Cleveland in the summer of 2017 after losing to Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. October 2, 2020 12:40 pm With LeBron James just a few wins away from winning a fourth NBA championship at the age of 35, ex-teammate Kyrie Irving got himself trending on Thursday over … "I have one father. Landry Shamet, Nets’ guard and teammate of Irving’s, spoke about how much he loves working with the seven-time all-star. During the Los Angeles Lakers 109-98 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving was seen trolling old teammate LeBron James over missing free throws. Back when Kevin Durant joined the Brooklyn Nets, Irving took a not-so-subtle shot at LeBron… The Brooklyn Nets superstar bamboozled the hell out of his former teammate after a ball fake that had ‘The …