NBA: LeBron thinks Kyrie won’t get booed as much in Cleveland return
Former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates LeBron James (23) and Kyrie Irving (2). (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Kyrie Irving’s return to the Quicken Loans Arena for the first time as a member of the Boston Celtics remains as the top storyline heading into the 2017-2018 NBA season.
The 25-year-old former Duke product is expected to receive a hostile welcome from the city’s fans, but LeBron James believes it won’t be as bad as the treatment he got during his first game back as a member of the Miami Heat on Dec. 2, 2010.
Speaking alongside new Cavalier teammate Dwyane Wade in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, “The King” explained why he thinks Irving will be “fine” come opening night on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
“Everybody’s good. Everybody’s good. KD (Kevin Durant) last year in Oklahoma City, Paul George going to go back to Indiana, you know, D-Wade’s going to go to Chicago, Kyrie’s coming back to Cleveland. No (it won’t compare,” he said.
“They will be fine. People were throwing batteries at us,” James added, recalling his first game back in Ohio after the now infamous “The Decision.”
The real story of @KingJames & @DwyaneWade‘s 14-year friendship: draft camp, playoff battles, ducking batteries, banana boats & so much more pic.twitter.com/7SFzLwzkUe
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 17, 2017
James also made it clear that he holds no ill feeling toward his former point guard and that he respects his decision to leave.
“At the end of the day, the kid did what he wanted to do. That was his destiny,” he shared.
“The three years that we had together, unbelievable three years. I wish we could have continued that, but it didn’t work itself out. Now, my energy is to the guys that’s in ‘The Land.’”
Meanwhile, Cleveland is expected to honor Irving with a video tribute on opening night, according to a separate report from Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon. Khristian Ibarrola /ra
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