Kyrie Irving Breaks Silence After Allegedly Ghosting LeBron James & Co. For Cavs Reunion

Earlier this June, several members of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers reunited for a European vacation, including LeBron James, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Richard Jefferson, Tristan Thompson, and Channing Frye. One notable absentee, however, was the man who hit the winning shot in Game 7 of the iconic Finals series: Kyrie Irving.

Smith was reportedly in charge of getting the band back together to celebrate 10 years since they delivered the city of Cleveland its first (and, to date, only) NBA championship. The former Cavs guard then stated on social media that Irving never responded and ghosted them. While this put the now-Dallas Mavericks star in a negative light, it appears that the star guard still holds the 2016 Cavs close to his heart.

Irving recently broke his silence on social media and paid tribute to the 10th anniversary of his championship-winning squad.

"All for one. One for All. WE completed the mission together as brothers, and that's all that matters to me," Irving wrote on Instagram.

Insider Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson reported that Irving had a busy schedule, wherein he committed to holding a basketball camp for the NBPA.

“According to sources, Irving never actually RSVP’ed to the European getaway because his calendar was already fully booked with back-to-back domestic obligations, ”Robinson wrote on Scoop B.

“The Dallas Mavericks guard spent last week—from June 8 to June 12, 2026—on the ground in Rock Hill, South Carolina, serving as a marquee mentor at the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp. Held at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center, the camp is elite high school basketball’s premier showcase.”

There were some rumors that Irving chose to sit this reunion out because of how he left the Cavs high and dry in 2017 when they seemingly had a chance to keep competing for titles. Irving wanted to get out of LeBron's shadow and demanded a trade, ultimately signing with the Eastern Conference rival Boston Celtics.

A year later, LeBron left for the Los Angeles Lakers, effectively ending what could have been a dynasty for Cleveland. Because of that, Irving remains a polarizing figure in Ohio.

Irving doesn't appear to harbor any bad memories or feelings, as evidenced by his comments on Instagram. It's also the only NBA title he has won to date, which would make it a special moment for him as well. The 2016 Cavs were truly resilient, and it makes perfect sense why the entire league continues to talk about them even a decade later.

Why the 2016 Cavaliers Are Celebrated

Every NBA season produces a champion, whether it's a first-time winner or a team successfully defending its title. More often than not, however, the celebrations and memories fade as the league moves on to the next season.

However, in the case of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, their championship victory remains a significant moment in NBA history. It was a season of milestones for the Cavs. They became the first team in league history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals. LeBron delivered the franchise's first championship, while also capturing his first title with his hometown team and ending Cleveland's 52-year championship drought across the major professional sports leagues.

The Cavs also went up against the Golden State Warriors, who broke the '96 Chicago Bulls' 72-10 record, notching a 73-9 record. On top of their dominant regular season, they were also the defending champions at the time, putting all the momentum on their side.

Despite the odds stacked against them, the Cavaliers did everything they could to fight for the title. In Game 5, the Cavs faced elimination. However, James and Kyrie Irving each put up a 41-point performance to stop the Warriors from winning. LeBron then followed it up with another 41-point performance in Game 6, forcing a Game 7 in the Bay Area.

While the Warriors had home-court advantage in the deciding game, Irving and James were fearless and took matters into their own hands. In the final minutes of the contest, Kai hit a huge 3-pointer that helped the Cavs seize the momentum. What followed was LeBron's legendary chase-down block on Andre Iguodala, a play that shattered the Warriors' hopes of going back-to-back. Then, with the score tied at 89-89, it was Irving's three-pointer that ultimately sealed the deal for the Cavs.