Former Cavaliers Teammate JR Smith Shares the Positive Side of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving’s Relation

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving helped the Cavaliers break the Cleveland sports curse when they finally lifted an NBA title. However, the differences between them grew bigger after that win, and it ultimately forced Kyrie to part ways with the Cavs.

All of this left the headlines filled with rumors of LeBron and Kyrie’s feud and how they disliked each other’s presence. But now, a teammate of theirs has spoken about how they treated one another when they were on the same unit.

Were the former Cavaliers stars foes in reality?

JR Smith joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in the same 2014-15 season when LeBron James reunited with his former team. He spent enough time with both Bron and Kyrie to give a real insight into the dynamics of their turbulent relationship. Surprisingly, Smith had something positive to say about their relationship.

In a recent interview, the 35-YO, who again played alongside Bron in 2019-20, expressed, “LeBron and Kyrie are not archenemies. Actually, they get along great.” Now, this was something no one was prepared to hear about the two flamboyant stars. But it is hard to deny since it came from JR because he has always advocated for the betterment of the duo’s relations.

Read also – “It’s Sad”- Former NBA Champion Disregards Feud Between LeBron James and Kyrie Irving

When JR Smith praised Kyrie Irving for apologizing to LeBron James

Earlier, during the duo’s time with the Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving increasingly hated being the “son” to Bron. He disliked living under the radar, always in the shadow of the Akron Hammer, and wanted to be the leading figure.

Later, he demanded a trade and left the Cavaliers, which later led to their downfall. However, when heading the Celtics, Kyrie soon realized how Bron’s champion mentality actually forced him to get better. So after receiving a loss against Magic, he called Bron to apologize for his demeanor. 

JR Smith, who was still playing as a guard with the Cavs, was quick to praise Kyrie for his gesture. This showed that things had been ironed out between the two. It also shows that JR Swish is a great teammate who cares for team bonding more than rumors.

Read also – LeBron James vs Kyrie Irving Feud: How the Teammates Turned Rivals and Much More