Kyrie Irving Explains Why Knicks Were An Option Before Celtics Commitment

Kyrie Irving has revealed that he did consider New York Knicks as a potential destination as he approaches free agency in the summer of 2019.

The Boston Celtics point guard is certain to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and was linked with a host of teams in recent months. There was constant speculation suggesting this will be Irving’s final season with the Boston franchise.

The Brooklyn Nets were among the teams interested, but the Knicks were said to have made him their number one target for next season. And Irving confirmed he did consider a possible move to the New York franchise before deciding to re-sign with the Celtics when he enters free agency in 2019.

The five-time NBA All-Star was born in New Jersey and that was the reason for the Knicks becoming one of his potentially preferred destinations. Moreover, he also admitted that the draw of playing with Kristaps Porzingis was tempting.

"I mean, every team was under consideration, but obviously New York held a special place for me," Irving said after the Celtics’ win over the Knicks on Saturday, according to ESPN.

"Just being from (New) Jersey and, obviously, envisioning myself as a free agent and ultimately taking a meeting and playing for (Knicks head coach David Fizdale) and a great young core that they have here. Thinking about playing with (Kristaps Porzingis). That was a big thing before I made my decision just to ... plan on re-signing back with Boston. But yeah of course New York was a strong consideration,” he explained.

The Celtics have won two of their three NBA regular season games after the season got underway last Tuesday, but the speculation with regard to his future started well into the off season. He ensured the season started with no unanswered questions by committing his future to the Celtics during a fan event at TD Garden earlier in the month.

Irving explained his decision by pointing toward the strength the Celtics possess in terms of experience and youth in their squad. He is certain that Boston is the place to be in order to realize his dreams of winning more than the one NBA title he has — the 2016 NBA Championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Moreover, Boston is the most successful franchise in the history of the NBA and some of the greatest players in the history of the game have represented the franchise and Irving is keen to join them before he leaves the Celtics.

"I think if you were in my position, I think it would be an easy decision," Irving said talking about his decision to commit to the Celtics. "Thinking about who we have (in Boston) and the future and what we're set up for. For me, it was where I am in age and how I envision my career going.”

“And kind of the lineage of guys that have come before me in the Boston Celtics is something I wanted to be a part of. Obviously, my dad and my mom met in Boston, so I had a lot of history there, as well. Obviously, being from New Jersey, (there's) history there. But Boston, there's nothing like it,” he added.