You better take a rest before you play against the best. We are not saying this. LeBron James is. The Los Angeles Lakers will be taking on Kyrie Irving’s Dallas Mavericks, and the LA star has a related theory behind Kyring intentionally missing the game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
After the Lakers fell short in a tough 119-115 loss to the Houston Rockets, LeBron didn’t hold back in his post-game comments. The Akron-born small forward took shots at Kyrie Irving’s decision to take a rest day before facing off against them. Addressing the media, LeBron pointed out that Irving had intentionally sat out a game against Memphis.
“Kyrie ain’t playing tomorrow, right? They do play tomorrow cause’ it’s a back-to-back, so Kyrie be ready and the rest of the guys be ready. It’ll be a good one,” James said.
Bron knows about the players resting up for the Lakers gimmick lmao
— 🎭 (@MaskedInLA) January 6, 2025
pic.twitter.com/pFDip2xuJU
Obviously, when the opponent is a star-power-laden team, any team would strategize to put their best foot forward. And same was the case with Mavs. For the Lakers, their upcoming matchup is equally significant. They are fighting for their playoff position with a record of 20-15 and the showup against Dallas would be significant for them.
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LeBron James And Kyrie Irving Have A History Together
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have a complicated history, deeply tied to the ups and downs of the Cleveland Cavaliers. When LeBron left Cleveland in 2010, fans felt heartbroken. However, the arrival of Kyrie Irving as the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft brought new hope. The two stars would eventually create something magical together.
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Kyrie hit the game-winning three-pointer in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the legendary 73-9 Golden State Warriors. That moment made Kyrie a local hero and helped the Cavs win their first championship. Yet, the joy of that victory soon faded. Kyrie became increasingly unhappy in the seasons that followed.
Whispers of tension between him and LeBron grew, which led to Kyrie’s unexpected trade demand. This shocked everyone, including LeBron. As Kyrie sought to establish his own identity, their once-close partnership began to unravel. Rumors circulated about his motivations for leaving. Many believed he wanted to break free from LeBron’s shadow and feel more appreciated.
“LeBron has tried to appease him at every turn. Matter of fact, I had sources in LeBron James’ camp literally tell me, and I’m quoting, ‘If Kyrie Irving was in front of LeBron James right now, LeBron would be tempted to beat his [expletive], end quote. Those are exact words because, let me explain why, because I want to make sure this is in context, LeBron James beef with Kyrie has nothing to do with Kyrie wanting to be traded,” Stephen A. Smith said.
Just like old times 💯
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2024
LeBron James 🤝 Kyrie Irving pic.twitter.com/bRHithVXnP
While LeBron reportedly held no grudge against Kyrie’s desire to move on, the public fallout frustrated him. He didn’t want to be seen as the villain in Kyrie’s story. After leaving Cleveland, Kyrie faced challenges with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, struggling with injuries and team dynamics. His trade to the Dallas Mavericks in 2023 marked a fresh start, teaming him up with Luka Doncic.
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