Kyrie Irving recently addressed a long-standing question that resurfaced from his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he was asked if LeBron James acted as a father figure in the locker room. This moment, which caught Kyrie off guard during his Cavs tenure, has since become one of basketball’s most talked-about viral clips. Despite LeBron being a senior teammate and leader, Kyrie firmly rejected the idea that LeBron played a parental role for him or the team.
Irving’s Response Then and Now
Back when the question was first posed, Kyrie responded awkwardly, acknowledging LeBron’s leadership and influence on the court, but insisted he only had one father. Nearly ten years later, Kyrie revisited this moment by recreating the viral clip alongside his actual father, Drederick Irving. He emphasized,
“I only have one father, Drederick Irving. This is my father,”
making clear that LeBron was never a substitute in that role.
Reflecting on the incident, Kyrie labelled the original question as unbelievable, saying,
“That was a crazy ass question.”
He further clarified,
“When somebody asked if LeBron was like a father figure to me, that sh*t was crazy, bro. No kizzy. That was a crazy ass question. He’s like a few years older than me, and you’re asking if he was my father figure. I’ve got a father right there, Drederick Irving. No disrespect, bro.”
Context Behind the Tension Between Irving and James
Kyrie and LeBron’s relationship was initially marked by success, including a championship victory. Yet, cracks appeared with Kyrie’s 2017 trade request, signaling his unwillingness to remain under LeBron’s leadership indefinitely. Although their split did not escalate into a public feud, it exposed underlying tensions about Kyrie’s desire for independence and control over his career path. He clearly respected LeBron’s role as a “great leader” but resisted being seen as dependent or needing guidance beyond basketball.
This need for autonomy shaped Kyrie’s career moves and public persona after leaving Cleveland. He has pursued his own narrative, often outspoken about figures in the sports industry, such as when he criticized Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN contract. The video recreation with his father further underscores Kyrie’s commitment to defining himself on his own terms rather than through LeBron’s shadow.
The Impact of Irving’s Clarification
Kyrie’s decision to publicly reject the “father figure” label years after the fact highlights the complicated dynamics in high-profile athlete relationships, where boundaries between mentorship and personal identity can blur. By revisiting this viral clip, Kyrie reinforces his separate identity as a player and as a person who values his own family and origins above all. This refreshes the narrative around their partnership and sheds light on the pressures Kyrie has faced in professional basketball.
Going forward, Kyrie Irving’s clear stance suggests that any notion of LeBron James serving as a paternal influence is firmly dismissed by the guard himself, which deepens the story of their past collaboration and ongoing connection in the NBA landscape.