NBA basketball player Kyrie Irving is one of the game’s most talented players, but he is perhaps even better known for his enigmatic personality.
Irving’s two-year tenure with the Boston Celtics, my hometown team, ended with a disastrous playoff exit in May 2019. Irving’s second and final season in Boston was so disappointing that I wrote at the time about the poor impact his clear leadership failures had on the team.
Irving came to Boston to escape the shadow of his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Lebron James. Though Irving and James had a successful partnership that led to a championship, Irving wanted to establish himself as a leader beyond James’ large shadow. However, it became clear in Boston that Irving wanted the admiration of leading a team without the accountability that comes with it.
Irving left the Celtics to team up with his friend, superstar Kevin Durant, on the Brooklyn Nets. Durant missed this most recent season with an injury, and fans are excited to see him and Irving share the court for the first time. Notably, their Nets hold championship aspirations, despite being led by a first-time head coach, former NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash.
