Insider Reveals Why Kyrie Irving Didn't Celebrate '16 Title Reunion With LeBron James

10 years ago, the 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers made NBA history by winning the 2016 NBA Finals against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.

The 2015-16 Cavs are the only team to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals. 

LeBron James, Kevin Love, JR Smith, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye are in Europe together hanging out and playing golf for the 2016 championship reunion.

Kyrie Irving, though, isn't there. 

Irving hit the game-winning shot over Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. He's arguably the best point guard in Cavaliers history.

LeBron, Irving and Love went to three straight NBA Finals together, but everything changed after the 2016-17 season. 

Irving requested a trade during the 2017 offseason and the guard was traded to the Boston Celtics. Multiple reports at the time said Irving no longer wanted to be in LeBron's shadow. 

Irving has played for the Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks since leaving the Cavaliers. He went to the 2024 NBA Finals with Dallas. Ironically, the Celtics beat the Mavericks in five games. 

The Cavaliers haven't gotten back to the NBA Finals since 2018. LeBron signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason of 2018 and won his fourth title and fourth Finals MVP in 2020. 

LeBron is currently an unrestricted free agent. It would be cool to see The King finish his NBA career with the Cavaliers. However, Cleveland can only offer LeBron a $3 million deal and LeBron is worth much more than that. 

The Cavaliers got swept by the New York Knicks in the 2026 conference finals. They clearly need LeBron to reach the promised land again, but it doesn't appear a reunion will happen. Most people in the NBA believe Cleveland will run it back with its core of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen next season. 

Irving, who didn't play this season because he was recovering from his left ACL tear, will return to the court next season alongside Cooper Flagg in Dallas.  

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