NBA ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY

February 18, 2023

Kyrie Irving

Media Day Press Conference

Q. Do you remember when your highlight reel went viral in high school, and how do you think highlights are changing the way basketball is played?

KYRIE IRVING: Yeah. I think I could just echo the sentiments of Austin (Rivers). Just, you know, when he was talking about during those early years and the highlight culture, you know, mixtape culture. Obviously we had And1 Mixtape, Hoopmixtape, Ballislife, YAY Area's Finest. I could go down the list to all the websites I used to have to go to just to catch a glimpse of the talent around the world, not just nationally but internationally.

You had to earn your keep. You had to earn your mixtape. I'm just grateful I got a chance to grow up within that generation and lead it in a way where I could have a legendary mixtape that high school players could look at, middle school players could look at and young guys could keep that, young girls can keep that for the rest of their lives. So I'm grateful.

Q. (Off microphone.)

KYRIE IRVING: The highlight culture? Present day, yeah. How many people actually watch the full 40-minute game, 48-minute game or 32-minute game that high school kids play and actually break down film? I don't think it happens too often.

But I give my credit to the basketball students of the game that really love it, enjoy it and don't just praise talent based on all the makes and highlights. You know, highlights only show the makes, but you have to show the highlights and the lowlights and just be a complete basketball player, learning from your mistakes.

Q. Is it hard to mix stars on a team? It seems like you guys are trying to play with each other (off microphone)?

KYRIE IRVING: It's a fresh trade, so it's going to be a figuring-out process. I wouldn't call it trouble. I just -- you know, we've dealt with some ups and downs throughout live games, and that's our only way we can really grow.

I wish we could have training camp together where you guys don't see some of our mistakes, but we're living it out in front of you guys. So for me I just have to prepare to be an incredible teammate, of course, but also be selfless enough to change my approach game to game. I have to be flexible and adaptable.

Q. Any regrets that you leave back in New York?

KYRIE IRVING: No regrets. I had a plan in place where I wanted to stay in Brooklyn long term, be a Net. It was a dream come true for me.

Obviously, I wish things could have worked out for the best of all of us in terms of winning a championship and etching our names into history of the NBA. Those are big aspirations.

It sounds easier said than done. But I had an incredible four years. I'm grateful to all the people I met throughout the whole entire organization.

But I have no regrets. Went through a lot of personal battles myself, had a unique journey. Now I get to speak on it truthfully and know that I've grown as a person, grown as a player. Now I can move forward and reflect on the rearview when it's time, but move forward with Dallas and the teammates I have now. So I'm grateful.

Q. (On playing pickup basketball as a youngster.)

KYRIE IRVING: Yeah, was I ever not picked first? Of course, of course. There was a time where I definitely wasn't sure who I was going to be as a player. I think what clicked for me was just the inner confidence, the inner knowing that my work will carry me forward.

All the pickup games that I played in New Jersey made me who I am today. I played against all generations, all walks of life. Not just in New Jersey, but I spent a large part of my time playing in New Jersey. That really gave me that chip on my shoulder that I have now, that ability to play with anybody and everybody, and then also compete at a very high level with kind of the crowd being on your side or against you. I'm used to that East Coast ruggedness, playing outside and just going after it.

Hoop is most important. We just get our respect that way on the East Coast, and we take pride in that. So I'm grateful I got to be a part of that.

Q. How do you feel about the players in the league and cutting back on the number of games players have to sit out for injury and those sorts of things?

KYRIE IRVING: I don't know who created the term "load management" or guys sitting out games or this narrative that continues to play on about star players or guys not being available. I don't know who started the narrative, but it's completely run amok.

I think it's dehumanized some of us in terms of just the way we prepare ourselves day-to-day. This is a 24/7 job. We have cameras on us all the time. It's a high-level, combative sport. It's very aggressive.

Nobody knows how anyone else's body heals. The only person that knows is the person that is hurt or injured. We try our best to tell you guys what is going on, but you have doctors online telling everybody that he needs to be back in two weeks. You've got this person over here saying that he is not really hurt. He doesn't want to play.

So I think the narratives have run amok. But us as players, we really take pride in preparing ourselves at a very high level and performing not only for our families, but for the fans that support us. We're nothing without our fans.

I just think the narrative needs to change in terms of load management. Eighty-two games is a long season. I'm not saying we can't do it. We're in 2023. We have all the technology necessary. We have to use it wisely, and we have to be very communicative about what the plan is for everybody individually.

Everybody's body is different. So you may see somebody heal in two weeks, but it may take someone else a month and a half to heal. It's just different. That's all. Appreciate the question.

Q. If you could have any other career, what would it be?

KYRIE IRVING: If I could have any other career? Shoot, I would probably be one of those people that does hotel reviews, travels around the world and does a whole bunch of reviews on what I think about the five-star treatment that I got or the four-star treatment.

I'm obviously joking, but that would be a great career. Just to record YouTube videos all day and just say how I feel about the experience.

You know, I have so many interests outside the game. But I think that is probably a story for another day.