Kyrie Irving clarified that his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 was driven by a desire to seek a different path, not because he disliked playing with LeBron James, and he emphasized that he loved Cleveland and appreciated his time there.

Irving is expected to return mid-season after tearing his ACL, which will challenge the Mavericks' chances, while LeBron James remains optimistic about the Lakers' title prospects, especially with Luka Doncic on the team.

LeBron James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game last season, shooting over 50% from the field and nearly 38% from three, maintaining his status as a top player.

Irving has spoken about the intense media attention, narratives, and politics that came with playing alongside James, which he found challenging as a young player trying to figure things out.

Despite winning a title with Cleveland, Irving requested a trade shortly afterward to become the main star and develop his career independently, seeking to have more control over his journey.

In a 2022 podcast, Irving reflected that if he had been more mature at the time, he and James could have won more championships together, acknowledging missed opportunities.

Since leaving Cleveland, Irving has struggled to achieve postseason success without James, reaching the NBA Finals in 2024 with Luka Doncic but losing to the Celtics, while James won another title with the Lakers in 2020.

LeBron James has stated he tried to support Irving and believed he was capable of leading the franchise, even suggesting he would have given Irving the keys to the team when ready.

Irving played a crucial role in Cleveland's 2016 NBA Championship during his three seasons with James, including a game-winning shot in Game 7 of the Finals, but both left the team afterward.

Irving's most successful period was during his time with Cleveland, and although he later played for Boston and Brooklyn, he struggled to replicate that success afterward.

He expressed a desire to choose his own franchise and develop alongside his favorite players, noting that early losing seasons led to bad habits in his game.

Ultimately, Irving values winning an NBA championship, even if his journey involved making tough decisions and doing things his way.