Kyrie Irving is widely expected to leave the Boston Celtics this summer in free agency and we're starting to understand why.

According to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan, Irving reportedly didn't like living in the city of Boston and had issues with head coach Brad Stevens and general manager Danny Ainge by the end of the 2018-19 season.

“The part of the thing is Kyrie Irving didn't like Boston,” MacMullan said on The Hoop Collective Podcast. “I've been told this by many people. He didn't like living in Boston. He just didn't. By the end, he had issues with Brad (Stevens). By the end he had issues with Danny (Ainge). By the end he had issues with pretty much all of us.”

Irving will likely sign with the Brooklyn Nets once free agency starts on June 30. The six-time All-Star grew up in New Jersey and was a Nets fan as a kid.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Blake Griffin with Celtics players telling him to come back before retirement.

Daniel Donabedian ·

A newspaper as the background, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown with the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks logos in the background

Owen Crisafulli ·

Mavericks' Luka Doncic smiling at the American Airlines Center. In background, need Mavericks fans cheering at the American Airlines Center.

Joey Mistretta ·

The Celtics lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2019 playoffs in five games. Boston was a dysfunctional team all season. Irving is arguably a top-three point guard in the NBA, but it's clear he's not ready to be a leader of a team.

With Irving headed to Brooklyn, expect the Celtics to re-sign restricted free agent Terry Rozier to a long-term contract this offseason.