FILE – Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks is drafted by Team LeBron prior to the 2023 NBA All Star Game between Team Giannis and Team LeBron at Vivint Arena on February 19, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. –Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—This time, it’s Kyrie Irving who’s doing the recruiting.
As per The Athletic’s NBA insider Shams Charania, Irving has discussed a possible reunion with LeBron James in Dallas.
“Kyrie Irving has reached out to Lakers star LeBron James in attempts to see if James would come to Dallas. Irving is a free agent this offseason,” tweeted Charania on Tuesday.
Irving is a free agent but had stressed he is “in no rush to make a decision” whether to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks or play elsewhere.
Sources: Kyrie Irving has reached out to Lakers star LeBron James in attempts to see if James would come to Dallas. Irving is a free agent this offseason.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 5, 2023
But Irving has certainly stoked speculations about his possible moves the past several weeks.
The 31-year-old guard sat courtside twice at Los Angeles Lakers games during the team’s postseason run that ended in the Western Conference Finals.
Irving was traded to the Mavericks last February after requesting out of Brooklyn. He played 20 games with the Mavericks and averaged 27 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
LeBron, who won a championship with Irving in Cleveland back in 2016, expressed his disappointment after the Lakers failed to land Irving.
Irving and James played three seasons together with the Cavaliers, making the NBA Finals in every season.
For the two to run it back, however, won’t be possible unless either the Lakers or Mavericks make big roster changes.
James just signed a two-year extension with the Lakers in August of last year. The $97.1 million deal reportedly includes a player option for the 2024-25 season.