Former Cavs Coach Recalls LeBron James' Reaction to Kyrie Irving Trade

Cleveland Cavaliers fans may want to brace themselves for some revealing comments made by former head coach Tyronn Lue during a recent discussion with Shannon Sharpe. Lue, now the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, reflected on his time coaching the Cavaliers from 2015 to 2018, highlighting the impact of Kyrie Irving's trade to the Boston Celtics on both the team and its star player, LeBron James.

During their conversation, Lue recounted a poignant moment from the time of Irving's departure. "Kyrie had made his mind up that he wanted to leave the Cavaliers," Lue explained. However, it was his depiction of LeBron's reaction that struck a chord. "LeBron was doing an autograph signing for his foundation when I sat next to him and showed him the news on my phone: Kyrie Irving had just been traded to the Boston Celtics. Man, Bron dropped the marker, laid back in his chair for about 10 minutes, and didn't say a word. Just pissed off. Bron was crushed."

Lue expressed his belief that the dynamic within the Cavaliers would have been drastically different had Irving stayed. He posited that James might have chosen to remain in Cleveland had he not lost his key teammate. Under Lue's leadership, the Cavaliers reached three consecutive NBA Finals and secured the championship in 2016 during the seasons that James and Irving played together.

Despite their successful history, the Cavaliers reached another Finals in 2018 but lost. This defeat contributed to James' decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers the following season, where he captured the 2020 championship. Meanwhile, Irving now plays for the Dallas Mavericks and recently shared insights into his decision to leave Cleveland during a Twitch stream, indicating it was not a reflection of his feelings towards playing with James but rather a personal journey he needed to pursue.

In light of Lue's revelations, many speculate on what might have been for the Cavaliers had the star duo remained united. Would they have won additional championships, or would the rivalry and pressure have ultimately driven them apart? The answer to that question remains a captivating hypothetical for fans.