Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving opened up about his divisive 2017 split from the Cleveland Cavaliers, providing insight into the difficulties of coexisting with superstar forward LeBron James. Irving also set the record straight on his feelings about his former teammate at the time of his unceremonious departure.
In July 2017, Irving requested a trade from Cleveland, the franchise that drafted him No. 1 in 2011, with reports citing his desire to be “more of a focal point.” His surprising decision came on the heels of the Cavaliers making three consecutive NBA Finals appearances, including their 2016 championship run.
A month later, the then-25-year-old was traded to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Žižić and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 unprotected first-round pick. Irving has since played for three organizations (Boston, Brooklyn and Dallas) over the last eight years, still in pursuit of his second title. However, the nine-time All-Star seemingly has no regrets about his early career arc.
Kyrie Irving Reflects on Challenges of Playing Alongside LeBron James, Reaching Breaking Point With Cavaliers
During a recent Twitch livestream, Irving shed light on the stress that comes with sharing the court with a player of James’ caliber. According to the 33-year-old, the relentless, unforgiving media coverage and pressure to live up to championship expectations took a toll on him.
“When you’re playing with somebody like Bron, or somebody that you guys like to compare him to, it’s a different animal, it’s a different journey,” Irving said (timestamp: 1:23). “You’re automatically expected to be at the top of the charts, top of the league.
“Every time you play with LeBron, it’s gonna be a lot of media attention, it’s gonna be a lot of back-and-forth narratives, it’s gonna be about a lot of spun narratives, it’s gonna be a lot of politics, it’s gonna be a lot of sh*t that a lot of people don’t see in front of the camera. And for me, I was just a young person trying to figure it out.”
Kyrie Irving reflects on the early stages of his NBA career
“I had a lot of bad habits as a young player, and that came from losing games and just trying to get buckets all the time… When I’m done playing, you guys will hear the real story.” pic.twitter.com/CcrL61MJkk
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) August 9, 2025
Despite arguably forming the NBA’s most dynamic duo, Irving and James played just three seasons together. Still, Irving noted that his trade request wasn’t personal but rather an effort to take the next step in his career, even at the expense of his reputation among fans.
“It’s not that I disliked playing with Bron at any time; it was just literally my time to move on, and that’s what people gotta accept,” Irving said. “They want a deeper, detailed dive in terms of what happened. It’s like, it was my time to move on. I don’t care if I’m remembered as that person; that was my decision.”
Irving’s exit ultimately contributed to Cleveland’s downfall, with James leaving in free agency the following year amid the team’s waning title odds. Nevertheless, the flashy, offensive-minded guard will always be remembered for his vital role in delivering the franchise its first and only championship to date.
