Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving couldn't help but flash an incredulous smile when, on the eve of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the first question that came his way Wednesday was about a former teammate rather than his current Finals foe. "Is that the first question?" Irving said when asked about James' recent podcast comments stating he is "f---ing mad" to not be teaming up with the eight-time All-Star any longer. "Oh, God, I love it. Got to love this, man."
Then again, LeBron James isn't just any teammate.
Reflecting on LeBron
Irving said he "appreciated" James' sentiments on his "Mind the Game" podcast with JJ Redick, when James lauded the former No. 1 pick as "the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen." Seven years after playing together, Irving, 32, said his relationship with the 39-year-old James has only flourished.
"Obviously, I'm in a different age, different place in my life. So is he. I think we both have been able to mature and really appreciate what we got a chance to accomplish," Irving said. "I think there were some things that got in the way of our relationship when I was a little bit younger. Now that I'm able to vocalize how I feel as a man, be comfortable in it, stand on my square, my beliefs, where I'm coming from, I feel like our relationship's different because of that now."
Missed Moments and Greatness
Irving, who was traded to Dallas from the Brooklyn Nets last season after James' Los Angeles Lakers made a run at acquiring him, reciprocated the wistfulness. "Definitely miss him," Irving said. "Man, when he says comments like that, I think back to us having those moments where we're down in a series, up in a series, we're really demanding greatness from each other. Off the court, our families meshing well. ... I definitely think about those times."
James and Irving's Cavs became the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals in 2016. Game 5 of that series, the first of their three straight wins to close it out, was also historic as James and Irving became the first teammates ever to both score 40.
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