Kyrie Irving publicly committed earlier this month to re-signing with the Celtics, but the All-Star point guard admits he would have given “strong consideration” to joining up with David Fizdale, Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks as a free agent next summer. “I mean, every team was under consideration, but obviously New York held a special place for me,” Irving said after Boston edged the Knicks, 103-101, Saturday night at the Garden. “Just being from [New] Jersey and envisioning myself as a free agent and ultimately taking a meeting and playing for Fiz and the great young core they have here, thinking about playing with KP, that was a big thing before I made my decision to sign back — or, I don’t want to get in trouble, to plan on re-signing back — with Boston. “But yeah, of course, New York was a strong consideration.”
Kyrie Irving Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 03/23/92
Height: 6-3 / 1.91
Weight:179 lbs. / 81.6 kg.
Salary: $20,099,189
Born: 03/23/92
Height: 6-3 / 1.91
Weight:179 lbs. / 81.6 kg.
Salary: $20,099,189
Ian Begley: A mix of cheers and boos for Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving during intros at Madison Square Garden. I’m sure plenty of people in the building still hope Irving considers the Knicks in free agency. He’s said he plans to re-sign with Boston.
Abby Chin: Kyrie Irving on facing Kawhi Leonard: “I know when he’s on me I can’t play around with the ball. He puts in that stick hand and he starts shifting you one way or another. You’ve just got to go by him as best you can or try to get a screen to get him up off you.” #Celtics pic.twitter.com/VRkpmp3Oxx
Jay King: Kyrie Irving on Toronto’s overlooked Danny Green acquisition: “He’s a champion, so, somehow champions still end up making a mark in this league no matter what team they’re on, no matter what role they are. They understand the sacrifice.”
Tom Westerholm: Kyrie Irving doesn’t want to blame rust for his shooting struggles. “Eff the excuses. I was thinking about going back out there and shooting, honestly.”
