Despite everything that happened between Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics, which eventually led to the All-Star guard's departure from the team, head coach Brad Stevens says he enjoyed coaching the superstar.
Brad Stevens: “I’ve said before, I enjoyed Kyrie.” Said Kyrie had a great two years in Boston.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) November 27, 2019
The Celtics traded for Irving back in the summer of 2017, exactly one season after he helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win its first-ever championship. Although Kyrie got injured before the 2018 playoffs, he still helped Boston secure the best record in the East.
Still, a lot of fans got excited about the Celtics' future, especially since they got Irving leading the way for their young core.
In late 2018, Irving reiterated the fact that he wanted to remain with the Celtics and he'd be willing to stay if the team wants him to. However, things started to fall apart from there.
Irving struggled to play with the younger guys during his second season with the Celtics, and there was even a time when he criticized them for not knowing how to play ‘championship-level basketball.' Boston still managed to make the 2019 playoffs as the fourth seed in the East, but they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round.
But even before the Celtics' season ended, there were already rumors that Irving has plans to leave the team and team up with Kevin Durant, which eventually happened this summer, when they joined the Brooklyn Nets.
Irving's tenure with the Celtics didn't end the way everyone expected it to, but at least both sides have already moved on. Boston is currently the second-best team in the East, while Kyrie is helping the Nets build a winning culture in Brooklyn as they await KD's return from injury.
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