Life can be unpredictable, but in the NBA, one thing has become expected: Kyrie Irving dropping quotes that defy explanation.
The seven-time All-Star point guard was not always outspoken. During the early years of his career at Duke and with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he gave little insight into his actual personality.
That’s not a problem now. Conspiracy theories, ex-girlfriends, teammates, coaches new and old. Nothing and no one, it seems, are off limits to Irving and a microphone.
Here are the 25 craziest things Irving has ever said (that we know of).
Bottom Line: ‘Now I Gotta Adjust My Game to This Guy’
Kyrie Irving, right, learned to play with LeBron James in Cleveland. Mark Duncan / AP Photo
Irving reached out to his former teammate LeBron James seeking advice about his leadership struggles in Boston, and Irving told reporters a little bit about the private conversation, acknowledging he was not the best understudy to James on the Cavaliers.
Irving recalled that he didn’t want James to return to play in Cleveland in 2014 because Irving, who was 22 at the time, didn’t want to share the spotlight and adjust anything he was doing on the court to what James could do.
Essentially, Irving didn’t want to play with James in his prime. Which is crazy.
Bottom Line: ‘That’s No. 23’s Job’
Kyrie Irving, left, was happy to win a ring with the King. Eric Gay / AP
Lue implored Irving to play faster. Specifically, he wanted him to bring the ball up the court faster so the team could get more shots off.
Irving was confused because, as he pointed out, he could get his shot off whenever he wanted. Lue clarified — shots for teammates, not him.
Irving, the point guard, petulantly replied that was forward LeBron James’ job, not his, further giving evidence to the idea that Irving bristled at James taking over point-forward duties whenever he wanted in games.
Bottom Line: ‘One of Those Generational Leaders’
Kyrie Irving, right, says hello to rapper Romeo Miller. Jordan Strauss / AP Photo
You can count on Irving doing nice things for other people. And when the conversation turns to those nice things he did, count on him saying something bizarre.
In this case, the nice thing was an act of chivalry in 2016 — going on social media to clarify he and Kehlani had broken up by the time pictures were posted of her with rapper PartyNextDoor, after fans lashed out at her, accusing her of cheating on Irving.
Somehow, Irving turned the conversation into him being a “generational leader,” which is a long, strange trip from the initial question.
Bottom Line: ‘It Would Be Nice If We Had a 15-Year, 14-Year Vet’
Kyrie Irving did not have the greatest time in Boston. Michael Dwyer / AP Photo
Irving, in his eighth season in the NBA and final year of a five-year, $94.5 million contract, openly wished there were more veteran players in the Celtics’ locker room after the team got off to a horrendous start to the season. With him as the team’s leader.
While the Celtics’ most experienced player, Al Horford, was in his 12th season, it’s not totally clear why Irving thinks that 14 or 15 years is the magic number for a vet to smoothly guide a team through the regular season.
This is when we point out that Irving’s last year playing with LeBron James in Cleveland (the 2016-17 season) was LeBron’s 14th year in the NBA.
Bottom Line: ‘Ball Movement’
Kyrie Irving has come a long way since his Cleveland days. John Raoux / AP Photo
Irving may not look at rosters or stats much. And if he doesn’t, maybe he really does think “ball movement” was the big difference between the two teams.
But if he did look at rosters, he would’ve seen that he was listed as the Cavaliers’ and Celtics’ point guard. Which is traditionally the position most responsible for a team’s “ball movement.”
And if he looked at the Cavs’ stats, he would’ve seen that in the 2016-17 season, his last season in Cleveland, he led the team in, wait for it, shot attempts.
Bottom Line: ‘The Earth Is Flat’
The journey continues. kyrieirving / Instagram
Nobody — nobody — is saying that it’s bad that Irving likes to question commonly held beliefs. But saying the Earth is flat instead of round, and essentially questioning the laws of gravity and what we know about the solar system was a bridge too far for almost everyone in America.
Irving’s comments touched off a round of national debate, not on whether there was any validity to what Irving said, but to how out of touch superstar athletes had become.
There also were some questions, from fair to brutal, about whether Irving, who likes to remind people of his vast intellect, was really as smart as he thought he was.
