Kyrie Irving has offered a rare and candid view into his early NBA career, particularly focusing on his complex relationship with LeBron James during their time together with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Speaking recently, Irving reflected on how his experiences in Cleveland shaped his growth and the challenges behind the high-profile partnership with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving partnership fans have long debated.

In a livestream discussion, the nine-time All-Star acknowledged the impact of losing early in his career, which he believes contributed to developing certain negative habits on and off the court. While expressing gratitude toward the Cavaliers organization, he also revealed a desire to have chosen his own path and developed alongside players he truly admired, rather than joining a struggling team.

Irving Reflects on Early Career Struggles and Team Environment

Before gaining widespread fame as a flashy point guard and NBA champion, Kyrie Irving was a young player trying to elevate his team in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. He admitted to struggling with his mindset and habits, shaped largely by constant losses during his early years with the Cavaliers.

I love Cleveland, don’t get me wrong. I’m appreciative of all the things that they’ve done for me,

Irving said during the livestream.

But at the same time, I would’ve loved to choose the franchise I wanted to go to. I would’ve loved to develop alongside some of my favorite players and some of my favorite people. Being a young player on a team that’s not winning a lot of games, it’s just a lot of bad habits that form, and that’s what ended up happening to me.

Irving admitted that his focus was not always on winning but rather on scoring points, which he now views as a consequence of growing in a losing culture. He described himself as neither a winner nor a gracious loser in those early days, reflecting on how those attitudes made it harder for him to contribute effectively to team success.

I was not a winner, I was not a good loser, I had a lot of bad habits as a young player, and that came from losing games and just trying to get buckets all the time,

Irving stated.

I know it may have been beautiful for everybody to watch, getting all the highlights and getting all the accolades, but all I really wanted to do was win.

Transformative Moments After LeBron James Joined the Cavaliers

LeBron James signed with Cleveland in 2014, immediately turning the Cavaliers into championship contenders and altering the team‘s dynamics. Kyrie Irving‘s role changed as he was required to adjust alongside one of the greatest players in basketball history. Together, they captured the 2016 NBA Championship, with Irving averaging close to 20 points per game during the Finals run.

Despite their success, the partnership did not endure. Irving requested a trade the following summer, which led to his departure from the Cavaliers. He hinted that the public only knows part of the story behind their split and warned of complex, unseen tensions during that period.

When you’re playing with somebody like LeBron, it’s a different animal, and you’re automatically expected to be at the top of the charts,

Irving explained.

It’s gonna be a lot of narratives and a lot of sh*t you don’t see in front of the camera. I was just a young person trying to figure it out. It’s not that I disliked playing with LeBron; it was just my time to move on, and that’s what people have to accept… You have no idea what the f**k happened. When I’m done playing, you guys will hear the real story.

Reflection on Career Path and New Beginnings in Dallas

Now 33 years old, Kyrie Irving has had time to reassess his journey and the choices he made early on. He revealed that joining the Cavaliers was not his preferred path and that he would have sacrificed personal glory to be part of a more stable and collaborative team atmosphere from the beginning.

Currently with the Dallas Mavericks, Irving appears to be chasing the opportunity to achieve championship success on his terms. Surrounded by seasoned veterans like Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and rising talents such as Cooper Flagg, Irving is positioned to find the team environment he long sought—one built on mutual respect, opportunity, and a clear chance to contend.