Kyrie Irving Clarifies Cavaliers Departure and Relationship with LeBron James

Kyrie Irving recently shared new details regarding his 2017 trade request from the Cleveland Cavaliers, stating it was "literally my time to move on" rather than a dislike for playing with LeBron James. Irving emphasized his desire to be the main star on his own team and how the dynamic with James came with immense media attention and expectations. Despite winning a championship alongside James, Irving reflected on developing "bad habits" early in his career from losing and prioritizing individual scoring, wanting instead to focus on winning. He reached the NBA Finals again with the Mavericks in 2024.