Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been able to become the superstars the Celtics had hoped they would become when they were drafted.
Last night, the duo helped the Celtics defeat the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years. One player who got the chance to play with both stars in the past was none other than Kyrie Irving.
Irving joined the Celtics in 2017, just as Tatum was drafted by the Celtics. In their first season together, the trio went to the Eastern Conference Finals but were bested by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie’s former team.
The following year, the Celtics were beaten by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the NBA playoffs. Irving had promised Celtic fans that he would re-sign with the franchise during the offseason, but then changed his mind and left the Celtics to sign with the Brooklyn Nets to team up with his friend Kevin Durant.
Many assumed that Irving left to team up with Durant so that he would have a better chance to win the NBA championship. But in the time since the Nets signed Kyrie and KD, they haven’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs and were swept by the Celtics in the first round this season.
Whereas Tatum and Brown were able to go to the Eastern Conference Finals twice since Kyrie left, and are now in the NBA Finals.
NBA fans roasted Kyrie Irving online after the Celtics reached the NBA Finals. Many pointed out that Irving could have found success with Tatum and Brown, but passed up that chance to play with KD instead, and hasn’t been able to find the kind of success the duo of Tatum and Brown has.
https://twitter.com/ayeewolff/status/1531124823300218880
Kyrie & KD are somewhere sick as a dog right now. 😭
— Detroit’s own Big John Boatright! What up Doe? ⛎♐ (@BigBoatright) May 30, 2022
— Adottben (@adottben) May 30, 2022
Bron wouldn’t have #4 if he stayed with the Cavs
— |DOM| ❄️ (@Pulledupflexn) May 30, 2022
Lebron could have been closer to Jordan if not over him, had he won consecutively with the Cavs with Kyrie. Durant really messed up what could have been the new era of rivalry between Cavs and GSW, similar to Lakers/Celtics.
— I Have No Chill (@imheretoannoy) May 30, 2022
they didnt get rid of either of them x THEY left. warriors aint make it back to the finals since kd left until this year, and the celtics lost 3 years in a row. relax
— Jelly (@S7VENSHADES) May 30, 2022
He played on the team with LeBron James and wanted out too 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— PBZ 🐺♟ (@ProfitboyZee) May 30, 2022
Jordan played in Boston?
— Truth be Told (@truth_be_toldz) May 30, 2022
the theme is that the Celtics organization was horrible for 4 years in a row
— Jelly (@S7VENSHADES) May 30, 2022
kyrie got rid of boston
— Jelly (@S7VENSHADES) May 30, 2022
The Nets have an important decision to make with regards to Kyrie Irving this offseason, and whether they will offer him a long-term contract.
Irving’s injury record and unpredictability have made him a bit of a liability for the Nets and have cost them a significant amount of games due to his absence.
Kevin Durant’s manager recently spoke about the situation, noting that he expects things to be resolved come the start of next season. Considering how close both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are, one would expect Irving to stick around, as Durant has a lot of stroke within the Nets organization.
