Sports

LeBron James wishes Kyrie Irving was still his teammate: ‘He’s the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen’

With Kyrie Irving front and center on the NBA’s biggest stage, his former teammate LeBron James admitted that he wishes the two were still playing together, with James calling Irving “the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen.”

“Sitting here watching it, I’m so f—ing happy and so proud to watch him continue his growth,” James told his co-host, JJ Redick, in a teaser for an upcoming episode of their “Mind the Game” podcast that will be released Wednesday. “And at the same time, I’m so f—ing mad that I’m not his running mate anymore. I just remember those times.”

DENVER, CO - APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets during Round One Game Five of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

Irving, 32, is back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2017, when he, James and the Clevland Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors. The Boston Celtics host Irving’s Dallas Mavericks in Thursday’s Game 1. James and Irving played in Cleveland together for three seasons, from 2014 to 2017, winning a championship in 2016 and making three straight finals.

“I would call Kyrie ‘The Wizard’ all the time,” James said of their time together. “There was nothing on a basketball floor that Kyrie couldn’t do.”

James, previewing the Celtics-Mavericks championship series with Redick, referred to Irving as the “ultimate wildcard.”

“It’s like having a Draw 4 in your hand every time someone deals you cards in Uno,” James said.

Through 17 playoff games, Irving is averaging 22.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals. The eight-time All-Star is shooting 48.5 percent overall and 42.1 percent on 3s.

James noted that Irving’s performance in the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals — when Irving scored 24 of his 30 points — was the first time he believed that the Mavericks had the potential to win the championship.

“That was like, ‘Oh, s—, Dallas may be able to not only win the Western Conference finals, they might be able to win the whole thing,’” James said. “Because of that (Irving) wildcard. I have so many words to praise Kyrie that I end up with none, because it’s just … He’s the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen.”

This is not the first time James has acknowledged his preference to reunite with Irving. James made his opinion clear when asked days before the 2023 trade deadline if Irving, who had just requested a trade from Brooklyn, would boost the Lakers’ title chances.

“Obviously, that’s a — what’s the word you use — ‘duh’ question when you talk about a player like that,” James said then.

The Lakers were one of several teams to pursue Irving at the 2023 trade deadline. They offered the Nets a package including Russell Westbrook and two future first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, The Athletic reported then. The primary concern from the Lakers’ end, at the time, was Irving’s impending free agency and his potential departure during the 2023 offseason. The Lakers wanted Irving to agree to a two-year extension, but he preferred to test free agency and sign a longer-term deal.

Shortly after Irving was dealt to Dallas for a package that included Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, an unprotected first-round pick in 2029 and two second-round picks, James tweeted, “Maybe it’s me,” which almost certainly was in direct reference to Irving landing elsewhere.

Irving requested a trade out of Cleveland in the summer of 2017 and was dealt to the Celtics. He and James reconnected a couple of seasons later when Irving reached out to James for advice about how to lead the Celtics.

Related Posts

Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, and the other Dodgers collected a postseason bonus that broke all previous records

An MLB analyst explains what this bonus means for the bulk of the roster for winning the World Series. This Tuesday, MLB announced the value of full shares…

Rafa Nadal se expresa como nunca antes ante su esposa, Xisca, y su hijo al anunciar su cese en el tenis

Su hermana Maribel, su tío Toni y, por supuesto, su madre y su padre, al que considera una “fuente de inspiración”, también se han convertido en protagonistas de…

When Ohtani hit his first home run that was considered to be “official,” he also threw a no-hitter

After signing a record contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani and his 54 home runs for the season were on full display as he went on…

อดิศักดิ์-ชาญณรงค์ อดป้องกันแชมป์ มิตซูบิชิ อีเล็คทริคฯ 2024

กลายเป็นสองนักเตะจากศึกฟุตบอล เมืองไทยลีก (T2) ที่ไม่ได้โอกาสในการไปป้องกันแชมป์ เอเอฟเอฟ มิตซูบิชิ อีเล็คทริค คัพ 2024 สำหรับ “อดิศักดิ์ ไกรษร” ศูนย์หน้าฟอร์มฮอตจาก “เกษตรศาสตร์ เอฟซี” ที่ซัดไปแล้ว 10 ประตู จากการลงสนาม 13 เกมให้กับทีม รวมทั้ง “กัปตันหนึ่ง” ชาญณรงค์ พรมศรีแก้ว แนวรุกตัวเก่งของ ชลบุรี เอฟซี…

Wallabies’ talent-spotting flaw exposed, All Black rookie stands tallest in Autumn Series teams of the week

In the end, we are as it is told in the books. World Rugby’s rankings come in for stick but over the long run, by the close of…

แผนงาน ทีมชาติไทย ชุดใหญ่ ก่อนลุยศึกมิตซูบิชิ อีเล็คทริค คัพ

เปิดแผนงานการเตรียมทีมของ “ทีมชาติไทย ชุดใหญ่” ในรายการเอเอฟเอฟ มิตซูบิชิ อีเล็คทริค คัพ 2024 ที่จะเริ่มฟาดแข้งในระหว่างวันที่ 8 ธันวาคม 2567 – 5 มกราคม 2568 โดยเกมแรก ทัพ “ช้างศึก” จะออกไปเยือน “ติมอร์ เลสเต” ในวันที่ 8 ธ.ค.นี้ ที่ประเทศเวียดนาม… แผนงานของ ทีมชาติไทย…