Kyrie Irving has acknowledged that there have been times this season when he could have handled himself better as a leader, but his confidence in his basketball abilities and understanding of the game certainly has not waned.
With the Celtics seemingly having hit their stride now that the postseason is here, Irving reflected on what has been a tumultuous season in an interview with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan. He alluded to how much he loves talking basketball but hates the drama that comes along with being an NBA superstar. He also humbly referred to himself as a “genius.”
“I’ve been playing basketball a lot longer than some of these people analyzing the game,” Irving said. “I’m an actual genius when it comes to this game.
“If you ask me about basketball, I will talk all day. If you ask me about spacing at the 3:33 mark of the second quarter, I will gladly explain it. I’ll tell you what plays worked, about adjustments we make. But when it comes to personal things, or comparing myself to my NBA brothers, like, ‘Do you think you are better than this guy?’ I’m out.”
That is a pretty ironic way for Irving to look at things, because it was him who questioned his teammates earlier in the season when things weren’t going well. Irving said the lack of experience on the Celtics’ roster had become an issue, and he later vowed to not question his teammates in public ever again.
In addition to being one of the best players in the NBA, Irving is one of the most polarizing because of the controversial remarks he makes. Calling himself a basketball “genius” is going to draw plenty more reactions, whether he intended it to or not.
