Kyrie Irving has had a media target on his back for quite some time now. Whether that is by his hand or for other reasons is a topic for another day. One of the first things that set the media off about Kyrie was the way that he unceremoniously left the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
When Irving first got to Cleveland, he was supposed to be the franchise’s saving grace after LeBron James took his talents to South Beach. Irving had just come off a season at Duke University that saw him limited in time due to a foot injury. When he hit the court, concerns about the injury quickly faded away. However, the rest of the Cavaliers did not hold up their end and the Cavs were back to their losing ways until 2015.
Irving left the Cavaliers after he spent 6 seasons with the team after they selected him as No. 1 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. According to an inside scoop from Mike A. Scotto, we have had new insight as to the way Irving was feeling even before LeBron James returned to Cleveland in 2015.
Kyrie Irving discussed what memories come to mind when he returns to face the Cleveland Cavaliers. He talked about coming in after LeBron James left and filling shoes that weren't meant for him, winning a title, criticisms after he left, and more. Full quote below. pic.twitter.com/3zxt4sG1XJ
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 27, 2022
“I had my first and only draft workout here. The amount of pressure I was putting on myself coming in after the prodigal son, LeBron James, leaves, and I had to take on the ropes after that. Who knows if I was ever going to live up to that billing? I put that pressure on myself to fill some shoes that were never meant for me. I just wanted to create my own legacy. In order to do that, I had to endure some rough years where we only has a few thousand people in the stands. I was feeling, at times, going home like a lone ranger or a superhero trying to bring Cleveland back to the top.”
“I think the greatest lesson I learned throughout that process was it’s not a lonely road you’re supposed to take on your own. It takes a lot of help and we had a heck of a team here that is forever sketched in NBA history. No matter what they say about me or anybody else, they have to talk about that team. They try to isolate me and say “Kyrie, what have you done since you left here?” It takes a great team to do something special, and I understand that. I don’t take this moment that I’m at right now for granted because it took all those times from me being here in Cleveland in order to achieve something special.”
That’s what I am on a journey to do now with this team in Brooklyn. Cleveland is never in the rearview, but it is definitely something I look back on to remember what it took to be a champion and how many years I had to endure (expletive) and dealing with all of this and what comes with it and people doubting. That’s what makes me great, just continuing to focus on what I do best and letting my play speak for itself.”
Kyrie Irving on returning to Cleveland: "The amount of pressure I was putting on myself coming in after the prodigal son, LeBron James, leaves, and I had to take on the ropes after that. Who knows if I was ever going to live up to that billing. But I put that pressure on myself.” pic.twitter.com/ytnF3Ca1ci
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) December 27, 2022
Kyrie Irving’s Time In Cleveland
Despite the immense amount of pressure he put on himself and from fans, Kyrie Irving enjoyed a good amount of success in Cleveland. He made 4 All-Star teams in 6 seasons and won the 2014 All-Star Game MVP award. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2015 when he averaged 21.7 points per game, 5.2 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game as well.
In 2016, Kyrie, alongside James, led the Cavaliers to their first NBA title in franchise history. He hit the biggest shot of the series with a game-sealing dagger three-pointer to complete a 3-1 comeback. Despite feeling like he was under an excruciating amount of pressure, Irving did accomplish enough in Cleveland to be considered one of their best players. Hopefully, that is enough to reconcile their differences.
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