In a new video that has resurfaced on social media, LeBron James And Kyrie Irving engage in a heated exchange. After falling behind 1-3 to the Golden State Warriors, James and Irving led the Cleveland Cavs to their first championship in 2016, beating them 4-3 in the 2016 NBA Finals. Last season, James and Irving kissed after Kyrie’s Dallas Mavericks beat LeBron’s Lakers 127-125, but the exchanges between the former teammates haven’t always been positive.

In the resurfaced 2021 video, Irving, who was a member of the Brooklyn Nets at the time, asked jokingly if James was the Lakers’ best free throw shooter after missing a free throw, to which LeBron retorted, “Shut the f*** up,” in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter.

It’s a rare moment caught on camera between the two stars, who have consistently shown the utmost respect for each other since their split in 2017. After losing 4-1 in the 2017 NBA Finals to an improved Warriors team led by superstars Kevin Durant, Curry and Thompson, Irving asked to leave Cleveland. He was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and two draft picks.

Then, the following offseason, after losing two consecutive NBA Finals to the Warriors, LeBron signed a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers.

Kyrie Irving aims for his second NBA title

Lakers forward LeBron James (6) guards Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center.
Images by Kevin Jairaj-Imagn

Kyrie Irving watched LeBron James win his first NBA title since leading the Cavs to the title in 2016. James and Anthony Davis led the Lakers past Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals. James won his fourth title. Irving, now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, is still chasing his second.

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To avoid losing him to another team in free agency, the Brooklyn Nets traded Irving and Markieff Morris to the Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and two future second-round picks. Alongside superstar Luka Doncic, Irving led the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season before losing 4-1 to the Celtics.

Since leaving Cleveland, Kyrie’s best chance to win has been in Dallas. After leaving Boston to team up with Kevin Durant and James Harden’s failed Brooklyn Nets, starting over with the Mavs has been a perfect fit in Dallas. In 2024, Irving played beyond the second round of the playoffs for the first time since losing the NBA Finals in 2017.

Still, Kyrie is looking forward to his 14th NBA season. Irving will be ready for training camp after undergoing surgery to repair his broken left hand, as he and the Mavs have already begun practicing in Los Angeles.

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