Kyrie Irving thanks Cavs fans: ‘We couldn’t have won the chip without them’

CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving left Rocket Arena with a loss Saturday. He also left with another reminder of what he still means to Cavs fans.

Irving received a warm welcome during introductions, and the Cavs showed his Game 7 shot against the Warriors. Afterward, he expressed his appreciation for the people who supported him long before that championship moment.

“I’m so grateful for all the Cavs fans, Cleveland in general, Ohio,” Irving said.

He thanked fans for embracing him during his younger years, when he was trying to establish himself among the NBA’s best. Grant Afseth of Dallas Sports Journal also detailed Irving’s appreciation for the reception and the opportunity to reflect on his time with the Cavs. 

“We couldn’t have won the chip without them,” he said.

That connection was evident Saturday. Irving scored 34 points for the Mavericks, including 20 in the third quarter, but the crowd had already acknowledged his place in Cavs history before he got rolling.

His shot over Stephen Curry in Game 7 remains one of the defining moments of the 2016 championship. Seeing it again in the building, with Irving back on the floor, gave fans another chance to show their appreciation.

The basketball part went to the Cavs, whose reserves delivered a 127-117 win despite the absence of the entire usual starting lineup⁠. Irving’s scoring helped Dallas make a push, but the Mavericks never recovered from an 18-point halftime deficit.

For a night, Cavs fans got both things they wanted. A chance to cheer Kyrie again, and a win over his current team.