Kyrie idolized Kobe too much to see LeBron as big brother, says ex-Cav

Former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving formed a tremendously successful duo with forward LeBron James years ago, as Cleveland reached three consecutive NBA Finals with the tandem from 2015 through 2017 and even won its first title in franchise history in 2016.

However, the partnership didn’t last as long as it could’ve, and according to former Cavs big man Kendrick Perkins, Irving idolized Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant too much to view James as a big brother.

“He idolized and looked up to Kob so much that he actually wouldn’t give Bron a chance to be that big brother figure,” Perkins said. “Even when y’all won it, I wasn’t there, but I’m just keeping it real. Kyrie never really looked at Bron as that big brother. Kob was that big brother to Kyrie.

“So, when he burned off, it wasn’t surprising to me, although I wasn’t there. I was like, ‘Damn, they tripping. They could’ve ran off a few more.’ But he was tired of being under the shadows. He just never — Bron could never really get that arm around Kyrie ’cause Kyrie really didn’t allow him to in my opinion.”

Irving and Bryant were never teammates in the NBA, but it’s clear that the former Duke University star looked up to the five-time NBA champion. Unfortunately, Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020 just a few years after he retired from the league.

Back when Irving and James were still teammates on the Cavaliers, one reporter asked the former about the latter’s “parental role” on the team, and the floor general seemed taken aback by the question. He reminded the media that he has a father by the name of Drederick.

The younger Irving asked out of Cleveland after the Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals. It was said that he asked out with the hope that he could land with a team where he could be more of a focal point.

According to a report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst back in 2017, the San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves were among the guard’s preferred destinations, though he ended up getting traded to the Boston Celtics.

He got his apparent wish and was the head of the snake during his time in Boston, but the Celtics never advanced past the second round of the playoffs in any run he was healthy for, and he departed the storied franchise to join the Brooklyn Nets after just two seasons in Boston.

Years removed from his stint playing alongside James, the veteran is hoping to win the second championship of his pro career with the Dallas Mavericks in 2026. Dallas is in a solid position to compete in the Western Conference in the coming season after drafting Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick.