Irving left James to be a leader, but now it seems that he is not a good leader.

On May 9, Kyrie Irving, a famous one of the most talented point guards in the NBA today, has always been accompanied by halo and controversy in his career. From the Cleveland Cavaliers' No. 1 pick, to the team-up with LeBron James, to the voluntary search for a deal to leave James, every step of Irving touches the hearts of fans. However, when he actually left James and tried to prove that he could stand alone, reality gave him a heavy blow. Whether it was the short-term leadership of the Cavaliers during his time, or the performance of his performance in the Celtics, Nets and Mavericks after leaving James, Irving's leadership ability has never met the expectations of the outside world.

Looking back on Irving's early years with the Cavaliers, he joined the Cavaliers as the No. 1 pick in 2011, which was regarded as the hope of revival by the team. However, before James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014, the Cavaliers never made it to the playoffs during three seasons led by Irving alone. Although Irving's personal data is impressive - he averaged more than 20 points per game and was selected as an All-Star many times, the team's record is terrible. In the 2013-2014 season, the Cavaliers achieved only 33 wins and 49 losses, ranking tenth in the Eastern Conference. Irving's personal abilities are beyond doubt, but his leadership and team influence are questioned. He prefers individual singles rather than organizing the entire team offense, which makes the Cavaliers' overall offensive inefficiency. In addition, Irving's slackness on the defensive end has often become a weakness for opponents to target.

James' return in 2014 completely changed the fate of the Cavaliers and also changed Irving's career. With James around, Irving doesn’t have to take on too much leadership responsibilities and can focus on scoring and playing at critical moments. In the seventh game of the 2016 Finals, Irving hit the key three-pointer that was recorded in history against Stephen Curry, helping the Cavaliers reverse the Warriors and win the first championship in team history. At this moment, Irving reached the peak of his career. However, after winning the championship, Irving gradually felt dissatisfied. He aspires to be the absolute core of a team and take control of the game like James does. In the summer of 2017, Irving took the initiative to apply for a transaction and was eventually sent to the Boston Celtics.

Irving's two seasons with the Celtics were a disaster. In the 2017-2018 season, although Irving missed the playoffs due to injury, the young players instead played better team basketball in his absence, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, and finally defeated the Cavaliers for seven games before losing. This undoubtedly challenges Irving's leadership. In the 2018-2019 season, the healthy Irving returned and the Celtics were regarded as a strong contender for the championship. However, there are constant conflicts within the team, and the gap between Irving and young players is becoming increasingly deep. He publicly criticized his teammates' attitudes and performances, but failed to lead the team forward by example. The Celtics were eventually eliminated by the Bucks in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and Irving's shooting percentage was as low as 35.6%, completely losing the charm of a superstar. After the season, Irving chose to leave Boston and join the Brooklyn Nets.

At the Nets, Irving and Kevin Durant formed a luxury duo, but injuries and off-court factors once again became hindering. In the 2020-2021 season, Irving missed the game many times due to personal reasons, including the famous "leave-off gate" incident, which caused huge controversy. Although he is still able to contribute gorgeous statistics on the court, the Nets' locker room atmosphere has become tense due to his behavior. In the playoffs, Irving was injured in the series against the Bucks, and the Nets eventually lost in the tiebreak. In the 2021-2022 season, Irving was unable to play at home due to refusing to get vaccinated, resulting in the Nets' lineup being unstable for a long time. Although he later returned to the team, the Nets were swept by the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, and Irving's leadership was once again questioned. In the mid-2022-2023 season, Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks and formed a double-gun in the backcourt with Luka Doncic. However, the Mavericks' record did not rise but fell, falling from the top four in the Western Conference to the playoffs area, and eventually missed the playoffs. The chemistry between Irving and Doncic is limited, and both require a lot of ball rights, causing chaos in the team's offensive system. The Mavericks management chose to renew Irving's contract during the offseason, but their performance in the new season is still ups and downs. Although Irving's personal data is still excellent, the team's record is difficult to satisfy.

Looking at Irving's career, his technical abilities are undoubtedly at the historical level. His possession, scoring and big heart performance at critical moments makes him one of the hardest players in the league to defend. However, leading a team requires more than just personal abilities, but also cohesion, communication and sacrifice. Irving's performance in these aspects has always been unsatisfactory. He is more accustomed to playing with self-centered style and it is difficult to truly stimulate the potential of his teammates. In addition, his off-court behavior and remarks often distract the team and influence the locker room atmosphere.

Irving's story reminds us that being a great player and being a great leader are two different things. The reason why superstars such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry can maintain their team competitiveness for a long time is not only because of their excellent personal abilities, but also because they know how to make their teammates better. Irving may never be able to reach this level, but it does not prevent him from being great as a player. It's just that if he really aspires to be the leader of a team, he needs to completely change his attitude and his way. Otherwise, the decision to "leave James" may become a regret that will never be compensated in his career.