[Saba Sports News] Kyrie Irving seems to be thoroughly enjoying his time with the Dallas Mavericks, and this enthusiasm has raised some eyebrows among Cleveland Cavaliers fans.
Irving recently spoke to the media for the first time in six months and discussed his decision to re-sign with the Mavericks. He inked a 3-year, $126 million contract that includes enticing incentives. The 8-time All-Star revealed that the Mavericks were his top choice in free agency. After consulting with his family and ensuring favorable terms in Dallas, Irving committed to the team.
“I felt like I could not only settle here but also be genuinely happy to return here… I considered every aspect,” Irving shared via Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
Irving also shared an interesting tidbit that might surprise Cavs fans who witnessed him help the team win the 2016 Larry O’Brien trophy. Irving expressed that he “wishes” the Mavericks had been in a position to draft him back in 2011.
This statement indirectly implies that Irving would have preferred to be drafted by the Mavericks rather than the Cavs. The Mavericks were coming off their 2011 championship victory and were in a completely different position to select Irving, who ultimately went first overall in his draft.
To be fair to Irving, he endured three challenging seasons before LeBron James returned to the Cavaliers. During his initial three campaigns, the Cavs had a record of 78-170. Nonetheless, Irving’s previous bold statements about his allegiance to his current franchise no longer seem as fitting in retrospect.