Stop asking Kyrie Irving about why he wanted a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Because he isn’t saying jack shit.
As he told reporters ahead of the Boston Celtics’ opening-night clash in Cleveland, per The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd:
Kyrie Irving is done talking about why he wanted out of Cleveland. Even though he never really did say why. pic.twitter.com/gJBRWeFwJr
— Jason Lloyd (@JasonLloydNBA) October 17, 2017
Irving is well within his right as a human being—and very real grown-up—to continue deflecting questions that aim to gain insight into his departure from the Cavaliers. He doesn’t owe us anything.
But the questions he seems to get very annoyed at would probably cease, at some point, if he would clue us into his thinking. At the very least, he shouldn’t belittle inquiries or genuine curiosity, however repetitive.
Can he not appreciate what this looks like from the outside? Someone requesting to be removed from LeBron James’ team, after making three straight NBA Finals appearances and earning a championship? Can he not admit that this was a shocking and unique turn of events, and that his quest to leave us in the dark, while completely warranted, doesn’t do anything to quash that innate yearn for inquiry?
This story will die down eventually, as the season leaks into its dog days. But Irving seems hell-bent on meeting curiosity with contrived, annoyed and, at times, condescending indifference. And regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, that approach isn’t the most efficient path to unimpeded life after Cleveland.
