Well, that didn’t take long.
Kyrie Irving responded to a report from First Take‘s Stephen A. Smith that depicted the point guard as being unhappy with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He didn’t exactly deny Smith’s findings, but he by no means copped to them, either.
Here’s what he said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com:
“There’s nothing to really address,” Irving said after putting up 22 points, six assists and an 11-for-11 mark from the free throw line against the Pacers. “Obviously there’s going to be some misunderstandings; it’s part of being on a team. For me, as a maturing young player in this league, I know what we have and the opportunity we have in order to be something special. My communication is open with all of my teammates, just knowing what’s going on and how I feel about things.
“For me, all that other stuff, what everyone is going to say, they’re going to pick one player, it’s going to change every single week. When they think that we’re down and out, they’re going to choose one player, so, for me, it has no effect on my life or what’s going on. It’s all about winning and winning a championship for Cleveland.”
No, the words “Stephen A. is lying” didn’t come out of Kyrie Irving’s mouth—in part because the chances are Smith isn’t lying. He made it clear his sentiments were based off rumblings he’s been hearing for a while, most likely long before LeBron James came to town.
Mostly, though, Irving denied the findings by refusing to address them. In a world that appreciates candor, it’s actually an interesting way of tackling the issue, assuming he’s that calculated.
Deny it by not giving it the dignity of any personal substance. Deflect. Talk about something else. All that good stuff.
While there are those who like to read between the lines, Kyrie Irving’s comments don’t give way to many inferences. The trade deadline has passed, the Cavaliers are still the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference, and there’s little point in wondering whether he’s happy in Cleveland when he has neither the leverage nor the slightest chance of finishing the season anywhere else.
