Since leaving the all-time NBA top scorer, LeBron James, and Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, star point guard Kyrie Irving has failed to make an impact in the league despite switching three teams to finally move to the Mavericks mid-season this year. Recently, the 31-year-old responded to a social media post highlighting his downfall after falling out with James and Cleveland.
On February 6, 2023, the Nets dealt Markieff Morris and Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round selection, 2027 and 2029 second-round picks, and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick. While the Mavericks failed to qualify for the playoffs, Kyrie averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in 20 games last season for Dallas.
A popular Basketball page broke down Kyrie's stints with Celtics, Nets, and Mavericks where he missed playoffs on three occasions in six years since parting ways with Cleveland. On Tuesday, the Mavericks guard took to his Twitter handle and responded to Monday's post that claimed, "Kyrie Irving hasn't had much success since leaving LeBron James, " Kyrie wrote, " Pin this tweet and see what happens in the next few years."
Kyrie and LeBron James played together at the Cavaliers for three seasons after the Lakers star returned to Cleveland in the 2014-15 season. The duo went on to win the NBA championship in 2016 but failed to defend their title the next year and lost to Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals. Irving made the decision to depart The King after they lost the 2017 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, who had acquired Kevin Durant in the previous offseason.