Ex-Cavalier makes major claim about Kyrie Irving's assessment of LeBron James' 'handles'
LeBron James spent three seasons alongside Kyrie Irving with the Cleveland Cavaliers before the latter left the team to join the Boston Celtics in 2017. The duo led the Cavs to three NBA finals, winning one in 2016. Brendan Haywood was a part of the Cavs during the 2014-15 season and played alongside James and Irving.
In an appearance on the “Run Your Race Podcast” on Thursday, Haywood spoke about a game during that season where Kyrie Irving claimed LeBron James needed to learn how to handle the ball from him:
“We're playing against the Spurs. I think Kyrie's out that game. And Bron, like, Bron tried to go behind the back. (Manu) Ginobili picks him for the game. And he said it loud enough so people on the bench can hear. He was just talking to me but he truly meant it. He said, ‘Ah, Bron's got to get with me in the offseason and work on his handles.’”
Haywood continued:
“I was like, ‘What?’ But he meant, but he didn't mean no harm. But that's how he viewed it. Like, ‘Yo, like, like Bron needs to come work with me real quick.' We're looking around like, ‘Are you sure?’ But that's the confidence.”
While anyone else saying this might sound blasphemous, Irving is one person who can make this statement as he is renowned for his ball-handling skills and is often credited as the best the NBA has ever seen.
LeBron James called Kyrie Irving a wizard during appearance on “Mind the Game” podcast
During an appearance on the "Mind the Game" podcast alongside JJ Redick on June 5, LeBron James heaped praise on his former teammate Kyrie Irving and called him a wizard:
"I would call Kyrie 'the wizard' all the time. There was nothing on the basketball floor that Kyrie couldn't do. And sitting here watching it, I'm playing like, so f***ing happy and so proud. And to watch him continue his growth and at the same time, I'm so f***ing mad that I am not his running mate anymore. I just remember those times.”
James added:
"To have a guy like Kyrie Irving as the ultimate wild card, that's like having a 'draw four' in your hand every time someone deals you cards in Uno."
While the duo’s time might have ended earlier than LeBron James would have liked, they did deliver Cleveland a championship. And it was arguably the most memorable one in league history as the team came back from being down 3-1 to upset the Golden State Warriors.