When members of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers gathered in Europe this month to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of one of the most memorable championships in NBA history, one notable absence quickly became a talking point. After former Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith joked on social media that an unnamed teammate had “ghosted” the reunion trip, speculation immediately centered on Kyrie Irving.
With former teammates including LeBron James, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson spending time together overseas, Irving’s absence fueled familiar narratives about potential lingering tensions from his Cleveland departure nearly a decade ago. However, reporting from Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson suggests the reality was far less dramatic.
According to Robinson, Irving’s decision not to attend had nothing to do with fractured relationships or unresolved issues from the Cavaliers’ championship run. Instead, the Dallas Mavericks guard was committed to previously scheduled professional and community engagements that kept him in the United States throughout the period of the reunion.
Sources told Robinson that Irving never formally committed to the Europe trip because his calendar had already been filled with obligations. From June 8-12, Irving served as a featured mentor at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina, one of the premier evaluation and development events for elite high school basketball prospects.
The annual camp brought together many of the nation’s top young players alongside a group of accomplished NBA veterans and basketball figures. Irving joined former NBA standouts Rajon Rondo, Andre Drummond, Tyson Chandler and Shaun Livingston, as well as respected skills trainer and former Cavaliers assistant coach Phil Handy, in working with the next generation of talent.
Following his work at the Top 100 Camp, Irving returned to his home state of New Jersey for a series of community appearances connected to his partnership with sportswear company Anta. Robinson reported that Irving visited student-athletes at Teaneck High School and West Orange High School, two programs that have developed relationships with the brand.
The Cavaliers’ 2016 championship team remains one of the most celebrated groups in league history after overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
