Kyrie Irving labels kneecap injury 'freak play' and transitions to Cavs' No. 1 fan
CLEVELAND – Injured Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving on Wednesday didn't blame his knee injury sustained in Game 1 against Golden State on his previously existing tendinitis and downplayed any friction between him and the Cavs.
Speaking for the first time since he was diagnosed with a fractured left knee cap Friday and subsequent surgery on Saturday, Irving said the injury happened on a freak play.
Irving had been playing with tendinitis in his left knee during the playoffs and logged 44 minutes before the injury happened in overtime of Golden State's Game 1 Finals victory.
"I was not any more susceptible. My knee in terms of the stability was great. Obviously there was a risk going out there playing anyway, no matter what. But in terms of everything that was inside of my knee stability‑wise, everything was fine.
"I trusted my trainers. I trusted my body. It was just a freak play. I felt good throughout the whole entire game. It wasn't about the minutes or anything like that that everyone wants to kind of speculate about, our training staff. It was me who decided to go out and play. Put my body on the line."
After Game 1, there were tense moments between the Cavs' front office and Irving's dad, Drederick. But Irving said on Wednesday, "I trust our organization, and I trust our training staff to the full extent."
Irving described his version of the play that resulted in the injury. He was trying to get by Warriors guard Klay Thompson.
"I drove right. I tried to stop on a dime," Irving said. "I've done it a thousand times, and I tried to get out of it with my knee. I tried to stop myself, and all my force went on my knee, and I believe Klay hit it, and it hit it in the right spot at the right time and fractured my kneecap. "
He said he had an idea his season was finished when he walked off the court and into the locker room.
"The way it felt, it was something I hadn't felt before," Irving said.
He has been reduced to watching his teammates.
"At this point we all have selfish ways, including myself. I wanted to win it for the city, for my family, for my teammates," Irving said. "But at this point sitting back and as a fan and as a teammate, now it's no longer about anything that's going on with me. I don't want the guys to feel sympathetic or anything like that or feel bad, because I'm pretty sure the Warriors don't feel bad at all over anyone else."
He said he tried to FaceTime Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert when Shumpert went to the locker room with an injured shoulder during Game 3. Shumpert didn't answer.
"Just let them know I'm there for them no matter what," Irving said. "I'm going to be riding with them no matter what. But it's definitely tough right now to comprehend."
