The Cavaliers decided not to show a planned ‘thank you’ video for Kyrie Irving
The Clevland Cavaliers apparently decided not to show a planned tribute video for Kyrie Irving during Tuesday’s season-opener against the Boston Celtics.
Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon reported Monday that the Cavs had prepared a “thank you” video for their recently departed point guard’s return to Cleveland. But during Tuesday’s game, team officials reversed course.
Cavs will not run Kyrie Irving tribute video tonight. It was a floating moment and team says that moment never presented itself
— Jason Lloyd (@ByJasonLloyd) October 18, 2017
According to Vardon, Cavs spokesman Tad Carper told reporters that the decision to pass on the video was made by several team officials, including owner Dan Gilbert, and was not “directly” tied to Gordon Hayward’s gruesome ankle injury in the first quarter.
“A source with direct knowledge of Cavs’ players thinking” also told Vardon that several Cleveland players were upset with the team’s plans to show a tribute video for Irving, who requested to be traded this summer, irking many within the locker room.
Carper told Vardon the team’s decision to pass on the tribute video was not made as a result of any player objections and that none had been voiced to him.
It’s unclear how the video would’ve have received by the hometown fans, who lightly booed Irving when he was introduced.
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/920439355772194817
After the game, Cleveland’s players appeared far more receptive of their former teammate.
https://twitter.com/imbeccable/status/920478669868593152
