LeBron James has been on a quest for the perfect teammate since leaving Cleveland.
Now that Kyrie Irving is back in the spotlight, ready to play his first NBA Finals since 2017, LeBron couldn’t help but express his pride. Boston will host Dallas in Game 1 this Thursday.
“I’m so f—ing happy and so proud to watch him continue his growth,” LeBron shared with JJ Redick on their podcast, Mind the Game. “I’m so f—ing mad at the same time that I’m not his running mate anymore.”
Memories of a Dynamic Duo:
Kyrie and LeBron were an unstoppable duo for three seasons with the Cavaliers. Their partnership led them to three consecutive NBA Finals, culminating in a historic win in 2016. Kyrie’s clutch three-pointer sealed their victory against the Warriors in Game 7.
“I just remember those times,” LeBron reminisced about one of his best basketball moments. At 39 years old, he’s still chasing another championship before retirement.
The Unfulfilled Reunion:
LeBron even tried to bring Kyrie to Los Angeles before last February’s trade deadline, but it didn’t pan out. Instead, Kyrie stayed with Luka Doncic in Dallas. “I can’t sit here and say I’m not disappointed,” LeBron admitted about missing out on reuniting with Kyrie.
Stephen A. Smith once said, "If it weren’t for Dwyane Wade, I could make a legitimate argument there would have never been a Kyrie [Irving]."
Kyrie’s Potential Impact:
Despite experts favoring Boston (-255) for the championship, LeBron believes Irving is the ‘wild card’ who could turn things around. He pointed to Irving’s stellar performance against the Timberwolves as evidence of his game-changing ability.
“That was like, ‘Oh s—,’” LeBron remarked after Irving scored 24 of his 30 points in the first half alone. “He’s the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen.”
We think it’s amazing how sports can create such deep bonds between players.
This postseason, Kyrie has averaged impressive stats: 22.8 points on nearly 50% shooting (42.1% from beyond the arc), along with assists and rebounds aplenty.
“To have a guy like Kyrie Irving as the ultimate wild card,” James emphasized again comparing it to having a Draw 4 card in Uno every time you play .
