Kyrie Irving has apparently reconnected with his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates after missing the team’s recent 10-year reunion celebrating the 2016 NBA championship.
The reunion, which took place in the United Kingdom, featured several members of the historic championship team, including LeBron James, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova. Irving’s absence drew attention given his pivotal role in Cleveland’s title run.
Earlier in the reunion, Smith addressed speculation that Irving had been excluded from the gathering. Responding to a fan on social media, Smith stated that Irving had been invited but did not attend.
Days later, Smith provided an encouraging update regarding his relationship with the current Dallas Mavericks guard.
Smith shared an Instagram story featuring an ESPN post that highlighted Irving’s recent comments about the 2016 Cavaliers and their championship legacy.
“We completed the mission together as brothers, and that’s all that matters to me,” Irving wrote.
J.R. Smith says Kyrie Irving has reached out following his absence from the reunion trip.
“He reached out! We GOOD! God Bless the young GAWD!!!! Greatest PG l've played with ” pic.twitter.com/sxJZahFg7x
— Bronupdates (@Bronupdates) June 20, 2026
J.R. Smith says Kyrie Irving reached out after reunion
Smith responded positively while indicating the two had spoken following the reunion.
“He reached out! We GOOD! God Bless the young GAWD!!!! Greatest PG I’ve played with 
,” Smith wrote on his Instagram story.
The exchange appears to put to rest any concerns about tension between Irving and his former teammates following his absence from the anniversary celebration.
Irving remains one of the most important figures in Cavaliers history. During Cleveland’s championship run in 2016, he averaged 25.2 points per game in the NBA Finals and famously knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer over Stephen Curry in the closing minute of Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors.
That shot helped secure Cleveland’s first NBA championship and completed the franchise’s historic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.
Although Irving was not present for the reunion festivities, his comments and subsequent communication with Smith underscored the bond that still exists among many members of the championship team nearly a decade after delivering one of the most memorable titles in NBA history.
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