Report: Kyrie Irving had good reason for missing Cavs’ 2016 reunion trip

When members of the Cavaliers’ 2016 championship team gathered in Europe this week to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of one of the greatest moments in franchise history, one notable name was missing.

Kyrie Irving.

That led to plenty of speculation, especially after former Cavs guard J.R. Smith jokingly suggested on social media that Irving had been invited but “ghosted” the group.

According to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, however, there was a lot more to the story.

Citing sources, Robinson reported that Irving’s absence had nothing to do with lingering tension or fractured relationships with his former teammates. Instead, the Mavericks star had prior commitments that kept him in the United States.

Per Robinson, Irving spent June 8-12 serving as a mentor at the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina, working alongside former NBA players and coaches while helping develop some of the nation’s top high school prospects.

Following the camp, Irving returned home to New Jersey, where he visited student-athletes at Teaneck High School and West Orange High School as part of his ongoing work with sportswear company Anta.

Robinson reported that Irving never formally committed to the European trip because those obligations had already been scheduled.

The reunion itself featured several members of Cleveland’s 2016 championship team, including LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Channing Frye, Richard Jefferson and Smith. The group spent time in England and Scotland, sharing photos from golf courses, restaurants and sightseeing stops.

The timing coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the Cavaliers’ historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the 73-win Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, still the only such comeback in Finals history.

The Cavs will also hold a public anniversary celebration Friday outside Rocket Arena.

As for Irving, according to Robinson’s reporting, his absence was about scheduling conflicts — not hard feelings.

MORE CAVALIERS | Cleveland may be exploring Schroder trade

View this post on Instagram