Feb 26, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) guards Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Kyrie Irving Gets Honest About Split With Lakers’ LeBron James

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Ryan Stano | Last updated Aug 13, 2025 4:00 PM ET

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James won a championship with Kyrie Irving in Cleveland back in 2016, winning the first championship in Cavaliers history.

For three straight years, James and Irving made the NBA Finals and faced the Golden State Warriors. They were only able to get one title out of it before James left for the Lakers.

Irving is now in the Western Conference as well, playing for the Mavericks. Recently, Irving talked about the split between him and James prior to the start of the 2017-18 season.

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Kyrie Irving talks about his split with Lakers' LeBron James

Irving didn't dislike playing with James; he just mentioned that it was time for both sides to move on from each other at that point.

Kyrie Irving on leaving LeBron James and the Cavaliers

"It's not that I disliked playing with Bron at any time; it was just literally my time to move on, and that's what people gotta accept.”

(h/t @TheHoopsAlerts) pic.twitter.com/GZAspUj56p
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) August 12, 2025

Both players would go on to leave the Cavs. Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2017, while James signed with the Lakers in the summer of 2018. Cleveland is just now becoming a title contender again following their departures.

The Lakers were rumored to be trying to bring in Irving before he signed with the Mavericks, but those rumors were never substantial. Irving was never going to take a pay cut to come to Los Angeles.

James went on to win another title after splitting from Irving, winning in 2020 in the bubble in Orlando. Irving made the NBA Finals with current Lakers guard Luka Doncic in 2024, but fell to the Celtics.

It seems both players are better off without each other because of how each of them plays the game. Both are ball-dominant players with big personalities, so they need their own teams.

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Lakers forward LeBron James is hoping to win more titles over Kyrie Irving

Irving isn't going to return until the middle of the season after tearing his ACL last year, so it will be tough for him and Anthony Davis to bring the Mavericks into title contention.

James believes that the Lakers are good enough to win it all, despite how good the Thunder are in the Western Conference. Having Doncic with the Lakers for a full year makes them feel great.

This past season, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. He shot 51.3 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.