Nearly a year earlier to the date, LeBron James was battling the Boston Celtics as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers — hoping to fulfill his dream as the hometown hero. Of course, that didn't happen, at least not yet. In May of 2011, James was preparing for another Eastern Conference Finals game against the Chicago Bulls and league MVP Derrick Rose. However, the Miami superstar had another point guard in mind, and his name was Kyrie Irving, who was the consensus favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall by Cleveland in the following month's NBA Draft.
"If the Cavs pick him, it'll be a great pick for them," James said , per ESPN's Brian Windhorst. " He's a true point guard who can score, in this day and age in the NBA it is a point guards' league. If they decided to take him, which it looks like, they'll have a good one."
If you've been around the block enough, you probably understand that the then-two-time MVP wouldn't — and still doesn't — say anything without some sort of between-the-lines subplot. LeBron knew that whatever comment he made about Cleveland would attract major headlines. Since Cavs fans burned "The Chosen One's" jersey, they had been irrelevant until they landed the No.1 pick in the lottery.
But now that they were expected to land college basketball's most exciting player, Cleveland was hopeful for a new direction. On the other hand, LeBron knew that his business in The Land was still very much unfinished. If Irving could turn into the player that the King would see as a potential Robin, the mission to return home was already operating in the superstar's psyche.
Bron wanted Kyrie in Cleveland
It's no secret that James has been at his best with a playmaking guard by his side. Joining Dwyane Wade with the Heat, he realized the power of having someone else to help shoulder the scoring and assisting responsibilities. The Duke superstar put the world on notice throughout the 2010-11 campaign. Being a student of the game, Bron surely got some time to watch the Blue Devils at certain points throughout the season.
"If it's Kyrie, I don't think you automatically place the franchise tag on him, but he's good enough where, if he continues to work hard, he could be that guy for that team," the ex-Cavalier added. "It's a tough situation for anyone to be given the franchise tag coming out of college, but I think he's one of the kids who is up for the challenge."
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Kyrie before LeBron
When Irving arrived in Cleveland 13 years ago, finally, Cavs fans could hear something in the media other than why LeBron left them. As a rookie in 2011-12, Uncle Drew averaged 18.5 points and 5.4 assists on an efficient 46.9% shooting overall and 39.9% from the 3-point line. Although he played in just 51 games, the 20-year-old took home the Rookie of The Year award — and you knew James was impressed watching down in Miami.
"We talk a lot; I've been knowing Kyrie since he was a ninth grader, and it's been great to see him continue to get better over the years and do the things he's doing in Cleveland right now," LeBron said. "He's been playing great. He's been showing why he's the No. 1 pick in the draft. Cleveland got a great pick."
James' mentorship of Irving definitely helped him come into his own in the NBA. After snatching the ROY award, the Cavs guard punched his ticket into the All-Star Game and won the three-point contest in 2013. A year later, he earned another All-Star nod — and this time, took home the MVP award for the game.
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