Kyrie Irving says the call to LeBron James had to "go from the front"

Kyrie Irving said his phone call to LeBron James earlier this year to apologize was necessary, in part because he "was not fixing the situation" while both were teammates in Cleveland.

"Well, I think you know, it takes a very strong personality to replay many of the experiences you have experienced," Irving told Rachel Nichols, of ESPN. "A lot of anger that you have accumulated, where you did not address the situation and you let it get on fire." And then it was just burning.

"He went out and it's just that … you realize," Hey, man, I did not have to deal with it the same way I did it. I did not have to do it the same way. "Now, notice, I have no regrets about the decisions I made, my individual journey, what I want and expect for my career.

"But for me, it's just … apologize, yes, it was a step for me, just to move on in my life."

Asked about his phone call at the All-Star Weekend media day in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, Irving had a lot less to say about it.

"It's none of your business," Irving said.

The Celtics leader revealed for the first time that he had called James in a follow-up match after the Celtics' win against the Toronto Raptors last month in Boston. It was one of the many twists involving Irving – including the tragedy that currently surrounds Anthony Davis' long-term Boston pursuit and Irving's statement in New York on February 1 that he's going to "make his better for his career "when he hits free agency, unlike his previous commitment to sign back with the Celtics when he can retire from the last year of his contract on July 1.

Irving and James played together in Cleveland for three seasons, reaching three consecutive NBA finals and winning the 2016 NBA title when Irving hit the winning shot of the seventh game of the final to complete his 3-1 return to the Golden State. Warriors. .

A year later, however, after Golden State won the rematch in 2017 in five games, Irving called for an exchange. Cleveland eventually agreed, sending him to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' first-round selection rights in 2018, who later became Collin Sexton.

James was going to join the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent last summer, while Cleveland traded Crowder and Thomas at last season's trade deadline to help the team get to grips. qualify for the playoffs. Finals and once again lost against Golden State.

Irving missed the playoffs of last season after a knee surgery, as did Gordon Hayward after being injured in the leg and ankle at the opening game of the season in Cleveland. The return of both in training this season has created a battle of minutes and a permanent tension in the locker room – especially among the young players of the team.

These are just some of the problems that have plagued Boston this season. The Celtics, although Irving played the best basketball of his career, have disappointed. The Celtics begin the race in fourth place at the Eastern Conference.

"It was a trying year for us," Irving told Nichols. "We basically have in our dressing room a group of young men who feel they can do a lot more than what they do, and that's fine, but you have to become more mature, present each day, and that's what big people do.

"At first, I did not play the minutes I wanted to play, I'm 26 and I'm getting ready to be younger than me, for example, why do I have to wait for someone?" ?[[[[Terry Rozier]played in the playoffs. He is extremely well done. Coming back, it's a natural competition that we have with him.

"That's what it is." Nobody wants to say it, but I'll do it. [Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum], all these guys, that's part of their growth. When you have to win, you have to understand it. You have to do the right thing, but you have to understand your teammates. "

Boston will be back in court Thursday in Milwaukee, where the Celtics will face the East Bucks.