Since he was a juvenile prodigy at Duke, Kyrie Irving has been well-known to the general public. As a result, we have witnessed the gifted guard develop into the person he is today. It’s encouraging to hear 32-year-old Irving consider some of his previous behavior and even express regret for it.
Irving will visit Boston for a postseason game for the first time since 2022 this Thursday, during Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Irving famously gave the audience the finger twice while he was at the TD Garden, and he appeared to relish it.
He’s not proud of the person he was a few years ago now that he’s had time to consider what he did.
“Everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my s— a little bit last time in Boston,” Irving said to reporters on Monday. “It didn’t really represent who I am or how I prefer to perform at a high level. I didn’t think that was a good example for the future generation of how to handle your emotions in that kind of setting, even when people are screaming at you. I was designed to be able to manage situations like that, and I’ve been able to develop ever since. Therefore, it’s inevitable.
Irving likened himself to a “gladiator” attempting to gain the respect and allegiance of the audience, a task he intends to do over the next weeks. He went on to compliment the Celtic supporters, saying they “respect great basketball,” and he believes that if he can silence them, it will mean that he has earned their support.
“I have a group to lead that’s going to be looking to me for a voice of peace and to be able to control what I can control and also help them through it,” he stated.
By no means is Irving’s statement that he has “grown” as a person over the past four years an easy one. His teammates, friends, and family should be proud of him.
Irving has made a habit of expressing regret for some of his dubious past choices, such as pressing Cleveland for a trade, breaking a promise to Boston supporters, putting his teammates in awkward situations in Brooklyn, and posting offensive things on social media.
Irving is likable because of his readiness to take responsibility for his errors. He is a person. He is one of us.
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