For much of this offseason, the talk around Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics was about where he would end up next summer. A lot of the rumors centered around the star point guard ending up in the Big Apple, potentially teaming up with Jimmy Butler. But during an event for season ticket holders on Thursday night at TD Garden, Irving surprised a lot of people and announced to the crowd that he would like to stay with the Celtics past this season, as long as they will have him.

Irving admits a big reason he wanted the decision to be made now is he didn't want his teammates and the team to have to try and recruit him to stay for the long haul.

Instead, Irving and the rest of the team can just focus on trying to bring back a championship to the city of Boston, and then everything else can work itself out after that.

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Irving hinted last month that he wanted to stay with the Celtics, but stated financial implications were the reason he didn't sign an extension this offseason. If he would have signed the extension this summer, he could miss out on more than $80 million.

Former Celtics legend Paul Pierce thinks it's a good legacy move to stay in Boston. If Irving can bring a championship to the city, he will be immortalized.

“I think that's a legacy decision and for him to see the potential of that team moving forward in Boston,” Pierce said, via ESPN. “Winning a championship in Boston is different than winning one in Cleveland. He will be immortalized if he wins in Boston.”

That quest could be made easier if Anthony Davis teams up with Irving, who has reportedly talked to the New Orleans Pelicans star about playing in Boston.