When J.R. Smith took to social media to call out an unnamed teammate for “ghosting” the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers’ 10-year championship reunion trip to Europe, the basketball world immediately pointed the finger at Kyrie Irving. With LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, and others hitting the golf courses across the pond to celebrate their historic 3-1 comeback, Irving’s absence sparked instant speculation that old rifts had resurfaced.

“He was invited and ghosted us all,” Smith wrote. “So stop with that bs.”

While the internet quickly ran with the narrative of locker room drama, those in the know understand that Smith’s comments were more lighthearted teammate ribbing than actual animosity. In fact, Smith has long held a deep respect for his former point guard.

During a 2023 interview with me, J.R. Smith opened up about his bond with Irving, recalling a time they spent working out together when Irving was working his way back onto the court in Brooklyn.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I helped with that,” Smith admitted when asked about preparing Irving for his eventual transition to Dallas. “I think just staying in shape helped him a lot—just staying consistent with his cardio and everything.”

Smith went on to marvel at how effortlessly the point guard found his rhythm anyway. “I think the first game he came back, he had something like 30 or 33 points,” Smith told me. “Kai is just an unbelievable player and an unbelievable person, too. I’m just glad to see him back.”

The reality behind the “ghosting” isn’t a case of bad blood—it is simply a matter of Irving having prior, locked-in professional and community commitments that kept him firmly on American soil.

The South Carolina Connection: NBPA Top 100 Camp

According to sources, Irving never actually RSVP’ed to the European getaway because his calendar was already fully booked with back-to-back domestic obligations.

The Dallas Mavericks guard spent last week—from June 8 to June 12, 2026—on the ground in Rock Hill, South Carolina, serving as a marquee mentor at the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp. Held at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center, the camp is elite high school basketball’s premier showcase.

Irving wasn’t alone in shaping the next generation of hoopers. The event featured a star-studded lineup of guest mentors, coaches, and NBA veterans, including Rajon Rondo, Andre Drummond, Tyson Chandler, and Shaun Livingston, alongside renowned trainers like former Cavs assistant Phil Handy. For Irving, the week was spent in the gym, pouring knowledge into the top high school prospects in the country.

Carrying the Torch of Mentorship

Those who know Irving closely understand that mentorship isn’t just an off-season hobby for him—it is a core responsibility. In past interviews, the point guard has open-heartedly shared how instrumental the late, great Kobe Bryant was to his own growth, a blueprint he now passes down to the next generation.

“Oh man!…. Kobe as the man was VERY inspirational, very loving and very compassionate,” Irving previously stated when reflecting on the Laker legend’s generosity of spirit. “Always had an open heart for those who wanted to follow his knowledge and wisdom that he always wanted to pass on what he learned.”

For Irving, stepping into coaching and mentorship roles at events like the Top 100 camp is a direct way to honor that legacy.

“Shout out to Vanessa and all the girls… They’re very strong so I have to be strong as well and we just want to carry his legacy forward. That’s really what it’s about,” Irving shared. “Him as a spirit is… ETERNAL. He’s everywhere right now and Gigi’s everywhere right now… I’m VERY grateful that I got to spend time with him and learn from him as a man.”

Giving Back to Jersey: The Anta Partnership

Immediately following his time in South Carolina, Irving pivoted back home to New Jersey for a cause rooted in that exact same philosophy: grassroots basketball and community outreach.

This week, Irving made special stops to visit with student-athletes at both Teaneck High School and West Orange High School in Northern New Jersey.

Both premier programs have actively been wearing Anta apparel, a direct reflection of Irving’s heavy investment and executive partnership with the Chinese sneaker brand. While Irving spent this past NBA season rehabbing an injury rather than taking the floor, he remained deeply locked in and around the Mavericks organization. Between the grueling grind of supporting the team through an 82-game season and focusing heavily on his own physical recovery, his schedule left zero room for community visits during the regular season.

With Dallas missing out on the postseason, Irving prioritized the immediate start of his off-season to return home, touch the community, and personally connect with the kids rocking his brand.

Moving the Needle

While the optics of missing a historic team reunion will always stir up sports talk radio, the reality is a matter of conflicting priorities rather than fractured relationships. For Irving, fulfilling long-standing promises to local New Jersey high schoolers and coaching the nation’s top recruits in South Carolina took precedence over a trip across the Atlantic.

Championship brotherhoods are forever, but sometimes, the work in the community can’t wait.