The Cleveland Cavaliers have been partying like it’s the summer of 2016 all over again. LeBron James, Kevin Love, Richard Jefferson, and others have all joined forces in a vacation for the ages that’s been plastered all over social media.
But while Matthew Dellavedova gets drunk and sings Australian classics, one crucial member of the 2016 title team has been absent from start to finish.
Kyrie Irving.
A tiny cloud of drama hung over last week’s events as fans speculated as to why Irving was not included
in the festivities. Was he not invited? Did he not want to go? JR Smith’s Instagram comments only added more fuel to the fire, stating that Irving was, in fact, invited but did not RSVP.
Irving himself finally took a moment to settle the score.
“Me and my brothers, who played on the Cavs, bro, we’re good,” Irving said in a video posted to social media. “We’re more than good… When I get back to the States, imma pop in with them. We’re gonna chop it up. We’re gonna have a great time.”
That settles that.
Irving is in a different position than most of his peers who went on vacation. He’s one of only two other members from the 2016 team who are still actively playing NBA basketball. He’s also been traveling for various basketball camps and community events. That could explain why he wasn’t able to join the trip.
Either way, Irving insists that he and his teammates are on good terms. That’s not for any of us to debate or deny. While we all would have loved to see Kyrie participating in the shenanigans from last weekend, it’s important to remember that these are individual people who can make their own decisions. The fans don’t decide who Irving spends time with.
Nonetheless, Irving and the 2016 team represent something. Meaningful to an entire city. It’s understandable why this story became relevant. Especially when Smith and other members commented on it publicly. But now that’s all said and done, I’d say there’s no harm or foul.
