With Kyrie Irving set to play in his first NBA Finals since 2017, when the Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), his former teammate LeBron James admitted how much he misses play with the eight. -All-Star time.
“I'm so fucking happy and so proud to see him continue his growth,” James told his co-host, JJ Redick, on an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast released Tuesday. “I'm so fucking angry at the same time that I'm not his running mate anymore.”
James and Irving played three seasons together with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2017, reaching three consecutive Finals and winning the championship in 2016, with Irving hitting the title-clinching 3-pointer in Game 7 to beat the Golden State Warriors.
“I just remember those times,” James said.
Irving requested a trade away from Cleveland in the summer of 2017, in part so he could showcase his game under James' shadow. Irving was traded to Boston and a couple of seasons later, the two stars developed a deeper appreciation for each other when Irving reconnected with James to ask for guidance on how to lead the young Celtics in the same way as the four times Most Valuable Player had coached the Cavs.
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers were one of several teams that aggressively pursued Irving before the trade deadline before the Brooklyn Nets ultimately shipped him to Dallas in a package that included Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a unprotected first round pick. in 2029 and two second-round picks. The Lakers' offer focused on Russell Westbrook and two future first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, sources told ESPN.
James, who openly pushed for Los Angeles to acquire Irving, lamented the point guard landing with the Mavs at the time.
“I can't sit here and say I'm not disappointed that we couldn't get such talent, but [also] Someone that I had great chemistry with, and I know I had great chemistry on the court, that can help you win championships, in my mind, in my eyes,” James told ESPN's Michael Wilbon last February.
While the Celtics are the favorites in the Finals (-225, according to ESPN BET), James said Irving's presence makes the Mavericks more than just underdogs. Specifically, James said Irving's performance in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, when the 13-year veteran scored 24 of his 30 points in the first half to leapfrog the Minnesota Timberwolves, made him reconsider his chances of Dallas in this postseason.
“That was like, 'Oh shit, Dallas can not only win the Western Conference Finals, but they can win it all,'” James said. “That's why [Irving] wildcard. …he is the most talented player the NBA has ever seen.”
Irving, 32, is averaging 22.8 points on 48.5% shooting (42.1% on three-pointers) with 5.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in this postseason as his second Mavs option behind Luka Doncic.
“Having a guy like Kyrie Irving as the ultimate wild card,” James said. “It's like having a Draw 4 in your hand every time someone deals you cards in Uno.”
