For those that believe Kyrie Irving quit on the Boston Celtics before the start of the postseason, Celtics president and general manager Danny Ainge’s assertion that he figured Kyrie Irving wasn’t returning “in March or April” only adds gasoline to the fire that’s burning his effigy in New England.
At Kemba Walker’s introductory press conference, the longtime front executive and former Celtics guard fielded a myriad of questions and was his usual candid self when discussing the twists and turns of the team’s offseason.
Sure, he doesn’t believe that all the blame can be placed on Irving, but before the playoffs even began, Ainge “was obviously thinking of moving in a different direction at that point, thinking about different options.”
It’s worth noting that in early March, with reports stating that Irving had “become detached and disengaged from” his (now former) teammates and with a disheartening four-game losing streak barely in their rearview, former Celtics big man Al Horford named Irving as the catalyst for a vibe-changing plane ride that allowed the team to recalibrate.
He was even complimentary of Celtics head coach Brad Stevens in a relationship that showed strain in a contentious season.
However, during the All-Star Break, Irving and (former Golden State Warriors forward) Kevin Durant were said to be inseparable. By late March, there were reports stating he and Durant were texting everyday. Within days, rumors were going around that Irving preferred the Brooklyn Nets over the New York Knicks, which appears to be true in retrospect.
So while Irving may have changed his attitude as the team’s de facto leader, he apparently had a change of heart about re-signing with the Celtics before the offseason even started.
Whether that played a part in his decision to play hero-ball rather than leaning towards a more team-oriented style of play when he was struggling in the Eastern Conference semifinals can’t be proved, although one would surmise that a player is more inclined to put his trust in teammates if he’s bought into re-signing than if he’s already counting down the days when he can continue his career elsewhere.
Unfortunately for Boston, all that can be proved is that the Kyrie Irving Experiment was a failed one, and one that appears to have ended before the expiration date.
