Kyrie Irving: Boston bad blood

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The Mavericks star will receive a special Celtics 'welcome' against his old team in Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Transcript

00:00I almost think about Gladiator just when the crowd over

00:02You know it's good to hear the TD Garden silent

00:05When you're playing well

00:07They still respect great basketball

00:14Me leaving there wasn't about basketball

00:16It was more or less about creating that foundation

00:19With me in Cleveland

00:20And then now taking this next step

00:22As a 25-year-old evolving man

00:24And being the best basketball player I can be

00:25When Boston came a knocking

00:27I was answering

00:28So it was pretty awesome

00:31About the way it all transpired

00:34It's just a chapter in my life

00:35You know that I got to enjoy

00:37You know for the most part

00:39We had a great opportunity to

00:43Do some special things

00:45But it was cut short

00:46Somehow it gets tossed under the rug

00:49But you know the greatest thing I learned from Boston

00:50Was just being able to manage

00:54Not only my emotions

00:55But just what's going on

00:57On a day-to-day basis of being a leader of a team

00:59Or being one of the leaders

01:01And having young guys around you

01:02That have their own goals

01:04Let go of the past

01:06It could cripple you if you allow it to

01:08You know because I've been bombarded

01:10With Boston questions since I left

01:12And people trying to figure out what actually happened

01:14But again I think the full story

01:16Will come out probably when I'm retired

01:18Or when it's appropriate like I said

01:21You know because I don't mind

01:23After a few years taking the brunt of the blame

01:26You know one of the best players in the world

01:27So I know it comes with that fair criticism

01:31You know but it's just a little bit more grace

01:34Could have been extended my way

01:35Especially what I was dealing with

01:37During that time as a human being

01:39We played in the playoffs

01:40And everyone saw me flip off the birds

01:42And kind of lose my shit a little bit

01:44That wasn't a great reflection of who I am

01:46And how I like to compete on a high level

01:48I wasn't my best self during that time

01:50So when I look back on it

01:51I just see it as a time

01:53Where I learned how to let go of things

01:54And learned how to talk through my emotions

01:56Of course it's going to be a hectic environment

01:58But I'm looking forward to it

01:59And I see it as a healthy relationship

02:02To have with the fans

02:03You see the media pundits

02:04Doing their normal things

02:05It's cool

02:07But yeah I'm looking forward to the challenge

02:08On the court against the Boston Celtics

02:10And being able to lead my guys

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