Following his departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers via trade request in the summer of 2017, Kyrie Irving aimed to be the leader and number one guy on an up and coming Boston Celtics team. Through on and off struggles this season, Irving’s eyes have opened more to what it takes to lead a team with goals of title contention.

Boston suffered a tough loss against the Orlando Magic this past Saturday. The loss ended with a missed 21-foot Jayson Tatum jumper- a play call that created some frustration on the part of Kyrie. After the game, the 26-year-old point guard had some words regarding the game and how his young teammates were playing that lent to his dissatisfaction, expressing that he felt “the young guys don't know what it takes to be a championship level team”.

However, it was what he said the next day- and to who- that shocked people. Sunday evening, Kyrie Irving spoke with former teammate LeBron James on the phone and apologized for his past attitudes and behaviors. Irving felt it was important to reach out and express his newfound understanding of what it takes to lead young, headstrong players down the path of an NBA season. After a team win against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, Kyrie spoke about why he felt it was important to reach out to James:

“Bron was one of those guys who came to Cleveland and tried to show us how to win a championship. And it was hard for him, and sometimes getting the most out of the group is not the easiest thing in the world. Like I said, only few are meant for it or chosen for it, and I feel like the best person to call was him because he’s been in this situation. He’s been there with me.”

Much of Irving’s original desire to seek opportunity elsewhere of Cleveland in 2017 was rooted in the dynamic that existed between him and James. While it may have caused friction for him then, there is no denying that LeBron has had an impact on Kyrie’s growth as a player and a leader.

If Kyrie’s comments regarding his teammates following the loss to Orlando felt familiar, that’s because they should. Kyrie, taking a page out of the LeBron leadership playbook, held nothing back as he voiced his expectations for his young fellow Celtics. This was eerily close to multiple scenarios of James speaking to the media about his teammates, such as when he called out other Cavs for underperforming in a 2015 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Kyrie Irving

The importance of holding your squad accountable as a leader and being honest, even if that honest is hard to swallow, is something Irving may have not appreciated in the past but understands now. Kyrie explained that it was tough to hand over the reigns when LeBron made his return to Cleveland in 2014. “Coming off an All-Star year starting and this heck of a presence coming back, and now I have to adjust my game to this guy. You take it personal, but at the end of the day, he wants what’s best.”

The same battles Kyrie faces now with the Boston Celtics, such as forcing them to play within their roles and play as a unit, are the same battles faced by LeBron early on in his second tenure with the Cavaliers. Conversations had between Tatum and Irving will likely mirror those had by Irving and James years ago. If he’s lucky, though, Kyrie will be able to get through to his teammates the same way LeBron did with him.

In their victory over the Toronto Raptors, Irving posted a career-high 18 assists. Kyrie, known as one of the best scorers in the league, epitomized team basketball and made serious efforts to involve his teammates and create the best offensive opportunities for the Celtics. A no look bounce passes to a paint occupying Gordon Hayward and multiple dishes down low to Al Horford were the obvious signs that Kyrie was looking to make a statement. He absolutely did so, considering many off his assists were done by sacrificing his good look to get his teammates set up in an even better position to score.

This type of play is indicative of a new Kyrie. While still boasting his trademark transcendental ability to score and create his own shot, he looked like a more mature, veteran player against Toronto. He looked like a leader. Hopefully for the Boston Celtics, Irving’s leadership is exactly what they need to maximize their potential and compete for a title come June.