Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving has left his mark on every NBA team he’s played for, most notably with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But one of the most talked-about chapters in his career remains his time with the Boston Celtics. Though his exit from Boston wasn’t the smoothest, Irving recently reflected on that experience and offered a candid look at what it truly meant to him.
Irving and the Celtics officially parted ways following the 2018–19 season. During a recent Twitch stream alongside his former teammate Jaylen Brown, the Mavericks guard recalled the excitement of joining the Celtics and what it meant to play in a city so closely tied to his family.
“It was when I first got there, bro. Like, it was so exciting,” Irving said. “My dad had gone to school right up the street. My mom graduated from BU as well, so it felt right, you know—just going there, being able to go with you guys.” Irving averaged 24.1 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.4 rebounds over his two seasons with Boston.
“And bro, to be on the floor with that much talent after being in Cleveland—I needed that change of pace,” he added. “You guys were challenging me every day, and I needed that. So first getting there, the excitement, being able to put on the Boston Celtics uniform, that was crazy.”
Kyrie Irving’s tenure in Boston
Irving’s time with the Celtics remains one of the most polarizing chapters in recent franchise history. Acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Cavaliers during the summer of 2017, he was expected to become the face of Boston’s next title-contending era. With a rising core that included Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, the Celtics appeared poised for sustained success.
In his first season, Irving averaged 24.4 points and 5.1 assists per game before a knee injury sidelined him for the 2018 NBA playoffs. Ironically, the Celtics flourished without him, advancing to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. That surprising run sparked debate about the team’s chemistry with and without their All-Star point guard.
The 2018–19 NBA season was filled with both high hopes and internal tension. Irving still posted strong numbers—23.8 points and 6.9 assists per game—but rumors of locker room discord persisted. His public comments on leadership and team accountability drew criticism, and reports of fractured team dynamics became increasingly difficult to ignore. The Celtics were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks, falling well short of expectations.
Irving left Boston in free agency to join the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2019, closing a two-year stint marked by brilliance on the court but turbulence off it. While his talent was undeniable, his time with the Celtics is often remembered as a “what could have been”—a tenure filled with promise, but ultimately derailed by chemistry issues and missed opportunities.