In the summer of 2017, the NBA world was rocked when Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending one of the most dynamic duos in recent memory.
While fans were stunned, LeBron James was devastated. According to former Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue, the moment LeBron learned of the trade was one of the most emotionally raw he’d ever witnessed.
“Bron was doing an autograph signing with jerseys for his foundation… he dropped the marker and just lays back in his chair for about 10 minutes, doesn’t say a word, like pissed off,” Lue recalled during an appearance on Club Shay Shay.
LeBron and Kyrie had built something special in Cleveland. After LeBron’s return in 2014, the two led the Cavaliers to three straight NBA Finals appearances and delivered the franchise’s first-ever championship in 2016.
But behind the scenes, tensions simmered. Kyrie reportedly wanted to step out of LeBron’s shadow and become the focal point of his own team. The Cavaliers ultimately traded him to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and a future first-round pick.
Lue’s story paints a vivid picture of LeBron’s reaction, not just disappointment, but a deep emotional blow. It wasn’t just losing a teammate; it was losing a brother-in-arms, someone he’d gone to war with on the biggest stage.
“He was crushed,” Lue said. “Didn’t say a word. Just laid back in his chair.”
The trade marked a turning point. Cleveland reached the Finals again in 2018, but without Kyrie, they were swept by the Golden State Warriors. That summer, LeBron left for Los Angeles, beginning a new chapter with the Lakers.
Lue believes that had Kyrie stayed, LeBron might have remained in Cleveland longer. The duo had the talent and experience to contend for more titles. Instead, their split became one of the NBA’s great “what ifs.”
Kyrie’s journey since then has been turbulent. Two seasons in Boston, a controversial stint in Brooklyn, and now a resurgence in Dallas. LeBron, meanwhile, added another championship to his legacy in 2020 with the Lakers.
