Ty Lue Reveals LeBron James Was Devastated By Ex-Teammate Being Traded

The summer of 2017 will forever be etched in Cleveland Cavaliers history—not for what they gained, but for what they lost. When the organization shipped Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics, it wasn’t just a trade that shook the NBA landscape. It was the moment that crushed LeBron James and set in motion a series of events that would alter the course of multiple franchises.

The Shocking Moment That Left James Speechless

Picture this: LeBron James, the face of the franchise, sitting at a charity event for his foundation. Jerseys were scattered across the table. Marker in hand. Just another routine appearance for the four-time MVP. Then, former Cavaliers Head Coach Tyronn Lue walks over with his phone, showing a SportsCenter alert that would change everything. “Kyrie Irving has been traded to the Boston Celtics.”

What happened next still gives you chills. “The King,” a man who’s faced elimination games, hostile crowds, and the weight of an entire city’s championship drought, was rendered speechless. He dropped his marker like it weighed a thousand pounds. For 10 agonizing minutes, James just sat there, leaning back in his chair, processing the unthinkable. “Bron was crushed,” Lue revealed on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. “He was pissed off. He didn’t want to believe it.”

The Trade Request That Nobody Saw Coming

Irving’s departure wasn’t some front office master plan. It was the result of a young superstar who wanted out of James’ shadow. The 25-year-old point guard had made up his mind. He wanted to be the man somewhere else, even if that somewhere else was Cleveland’s biggest rival.

Lue compared it to the legendary Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O’Neal split in Los Angeles. Two generational talents who couldn’t coexist, despite their undeniable chemistry on the court. The Cavaliers had reached three consecutive NBA Finals with this duo, capturing the city’s first major sports championship in 52 years in 2016. But basketball is more than just X’s and O’s. It’s about egos, aspirations, and the delicate balance of superstar personalities.

The Domino Effect That Reshaped the NBA

Irving’s trade request didn’t just impact Cleveland—it sent shockwaves throughout the entire league. The Celtics suddenly had a dynamic young point guard to build around. The Cavaliers lost their second-best player entering what many believed would be another championship window. Most importantly, it planted the seed for LeBron James’ eventual departure.

Lue believes that if Irving had stayed, James would have remained in Cleveland. Instead, the trade created a fracture that couldn’t be repaired. James carried the team to another Finals appearance in 2018, but the writing was on the wall. By July, he was wearing purple and gold in Los Angeles.

What Could Have Been

The “what if” scenarios surrounding this trade are endless. Could the Cavaliers have won another championship with Irving and James? Would the Golden State Warriors’ dominance have been challenged more effectively? How different would the Eastern Conference have looked over the past seven years?

These questions will forever remain unanswered, but one thing is certain: the trade to Boston made the situation even more painful for James. The Celtics weren’t just any franchise; they were Cleveland’s biggest obstacle in the Eastern Conference.

Legacy of a Franchise-Altering Decision

Today, both players have moved on to different chapters in their careers. James won another championship with the Lakers in 2020. Irving has bounced between Brooklyn and Dallas, searching for the perfect fit. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, have rebuilt from scratch, developing a young core that’s finally showing promise.

But for those ten minutes in 2017, when James sat in stunned silence, everything changed. The trade that nobody saw coming became the moment that reshaped the NBA landscape forever.