BOSTON (AP) – New Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving says he doesn’t care if anyone took it personally that he left Cleveland, even Cavaliers star LeBron James.
Appearing Monday on ESPN’s “First Take,’’ Irving said he doesn’t feel like he owed James an explanation for asking for a trade.
Asked if he let James know that he was seeking to leave, Irving said, “Why would I have to?’’
“No,’’ Irving said.
Irving was eventually sent to the Celtics for a package that included Isaiah Thomas and a first-round draft pick.
He says the move from the Eastern Conference champions wasn’t about not wanting to win.
NBA JERSEYS
Sporting a favorite player’s number can now be more than a declaration of faith, thanks to smart jerseys unveiled this weekend by Nike as part of its new partnership with the NBA.
A tap of a smartphone to a label on the jersey allows the wearer a real-time look at Kevin Durant’s statistics, Blake Griffin’s post-match press conference, or even the music playlist an BA star uses to get motivated before a game.
The high-tech kit was unveiled on Friday night in a show featuring rapper Travis Scott, Golden State Warriors superstar Durant and Los Angeles Clippers standout Griffin.
Frank Ntilikina, the French sensation who is poised to launch his first NBA campaign with the New York Knicks, was also on hand to tout the technology that will be available worldwide on September 29.
Stefan Olander, Nike vice president in charge of digital innovation, says the jerseys, embedded with a NFC (near field communication) chip will bring customers closer to the game than ever. (With a report from AFP)
