NBA fans still think that Why Did Kyrie Irving Ditch the Celtics. It’s been five years since Kyrie Irving made the shocking decision to leave the Boston Celtics as a free agent. Point guard star expected to re-sign and lead Boston for years.
But in a stunning about-face, Irving ended up taking his talents elsewhere – joining his former teammate Kevin Durant in Brooklyn.
Irving’s messy exit caused massive shockwaves throughout the NBA and left Celtics fans feeling deeply betrayed. Irving’s Boston exit sparks debate among NBA experts and Celtics-Nets rivals. So let’s take a look at the factors that likely drove Irving’s choice.
Leadership Issues
Irving’s talent couldn’t overcome locker room drama in Boston. Young Celtics stars Tatum and Brown struggled with Irving’s leadership style and his habit of publicly criticizing teammates.
Sources claim Tatum and Brown clashed with Irving’s leadership and his public criticism of teammates. His habit of taking extended personal hiatuses also created resentments.
“Kyrie simply lost the respect of the younger players through his own eccentric actions,” one league source shared. “After a while, regardless of talent, it becomes impossible to lead when nobody’s willing to get led by you anymore.”
Second-Guessing Boston
Deep down, it also seems Irving’s heart was never fully committed to Boston the way most presumed. A New Jersey native, rumblings indicate the bright lights of New York and Brooklyn’s urban lifestyle always held serious appeal for the non-traditional star.
“I was never fully sold on re-signing, let’s just put it that way,” Irving cryptically stated years later about his Boston exit. “There were way too many cooks in that kitchen, too many voices pulling me in different directions. I had to get control of my own narrative.”
Issues with Brad Stevens’ coaching methods and Boston’s intense media speculation around his pending free agency may have also caused Irving to sour on the situation. Highly-publicized issues like his belief in conspiracy theories and the flat Earth didn’t help either.
Finally, there were likely concerns about the long-term trajectory of the franchise itself. With older stars like Al Horford set to depart, and GM Danny Ainge failing to acquire another bonafide star to pair with Kyrie, the Celtics’ championship window appeared to be narrowing.
A Dynamic Duo in the Making
While he had issues with the Celtics’ infrastructure, teammates, and market pressures, Kyrie Irving was taken by one major selling point – the opportunity to create an unstoppable duo with his close friend Kevin Durant.
After taking meetings and hearing pitches, it became clear that partnering with Durant in Brooklyn offered Irving the chance for a completely fresh start and new narrative arc to his career.
The two close pals could return to the New York metro area Durant once starred in, build an contender from scratch, and call all the shots.
Though injuries soon derailed those championship dreams their first few years in Brooklyn, the allure of that vision proved too enticing for the mercurial Kyrie to pass up. Clearly, the bonds of friendship and collaborative team-building opportunity beckoned stronger than any allegiances in Boston.
Bad Breakup
When Irving’s decision to leave leaked, it sparked an immediate firestorm. Players were reportedly “pissed” at his reversal and felt completely misled after his previous pledge. Danny Ainge unloaded on Irving publicly, saying “He’s no kid anymore…at some point people need to honor their word.”
Public disputes erupted over Irving’s Boston exit, with accusations and counter-claims about broken promises and misleading directions.
Hurt and disillusioned Celtics fans immediately turned on their former hero too. The jersey burnings, vicious chants, and intense hatred towards Irving seemed to catch him off guard as he left town. While vilified for a time, Irving still insists he has no regrets about putting himself first.
“It was unfortunate how things played out communication-wise, but I have absolutely no regrets,” Irving stated. “I gave everything I could in a Celtics uniform. But when it’s time to move on, you have to make the decision that’s best for your own life and happiness.”
Lingering Ill Will
Five years later, the feelings of acrimony haven’t fully subsided on either side. Recent comments from Brooklyn teammate Durant indicate Kyrie still complains on occasion about all the criticism he faced.
Meanwhile, Boston fans continue to rain down deafening boos and crude chants whenever Irving returns to TD Garden.
For the ultra-talented but equally enigmatic Irving, his Boston exit will likely remain a black mark and unresolved chip on his shoulder for years to come. While chasing grander championship dreams, he left a team, city, and fanbase feeling utterly spurned in the process.
Regardless of whatever his personal justifications were, Irving’s stunning decision kickstarted an intense new chapter in the Celtics-Nets rivalry and became a cautionary tale about putting too much trust in the whims of a superstar player’s wandering eye.
Was abandoning his promise and commitment in Boston the right move? Only Kyrie truly knows. But with generational talents, it often comes with the territory of leaving burned bridges in the wake of their personal ambitions.