After the Celtics blew a double-digit lead en route to another frustrating loss in January, Kyrie Irving called LeBron James to apologize for once “being that young player that wanted everything at his fingertips.”
The intervening years since Irving and James partnered for a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 have given the point guard a new appreciation for veteran leadership. Irving told reporters after the conversation that it takes “a real man” to call somebody and acknowledge prior mistakes.
James used the same phrase to describe his former teammate during All-Star Weekend.
“I’ve always loved Kyrie, from before I met him, [until] when I became his teammate, to even now,” James said Saturday.