Irving back at Oracle Arena — site of his greatest NBA achievement

OAKLAND – As Kyrie Irving stepped onto the Oracle Arena court for the NBA All-Star game practice session on Saturday morning, he couldn’t help but be reminded of the three battles he had in the 2015-17 NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors when he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Warriors defeated Cleveland for the 2015 and ’17 NBA titles, but Irving and the Cavs captured the 2016 NBA championship. And in the decisive Game 7 of that series held at Oracle Arena, it was Irving who drained a three-pointer over Stephen Curry to break a tie and give the Cavs a 92-89 lead with just 53 seconds remaining in a game they won, 93-89.

For the Cavs, that ended a 52-year major sports championship drought for the city of Cleveland.

And Irving, who now plays for the Mavericks, was right smack in the middle of the action.

“If you guys only knew what it’s like to be in that locker room when those Warriors fans were just making so (much noise),” Irving said. “Celebrity row was going crazy.

“And the Finals was just one of those memorable moments that I look back on as a holy man now. I’m grateful that I got to go through that.”

Irving also is grateful to have played at Oracle Arena before the Warriors left after the 2018-19 season to move to Chase Center in San Francisco, where Irving will be participating in Sunday’s All-Star game.

“Imagine how much history took place in here that I was not a part of, but also a part of,” Irving said, referring to Oracle Arena. “A lot of battles, man.

“A lot of blood, sweat and tears poured out on that court. It felt nostalgic going out there, but at the same time it felt re-invigorating, if that makes sense.”

Those three meetings in the Finals between the Cavs and Warriors have sort of made Irving and Curry joined at the hip. Especially since they joined the NBA around the same time – Curry was the No. 7 overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft and Irving was the No. 1 overall selection in 2011.

“Me and Steph’s relationship is ultra-competitive,” Irving said during Saturday’s Media Day. “That’s where it started from just because we didn’t really know each other coming into the league. To see him ascend to the places he’s been – two-time MVP – and I’m on record saying that he’s been the guy for our generation for a while. When someone’s setting that precedent and (being) that successful, it’s hard not to try to steal recipes from him for success.

“Whether that be things that he does in the weight room, whether that be the way he handles being a franchise leader, or whether (that be) handling tough situations, I’ve learned a lot from him and I think that’s been a great kind of — not distant relationship — but we’ve kept it competitive. But at the same time when we’re at places like this we can open up to each other and talk from places of just understand that we know what it’s like being in that pressure-cooker, being a small guard and leading your team.

“It feels good when you get on the other end of success and all those doubters got to look you in the face and say you did it. I think that attitude and mentality that Steph has had for a while, it’s rubbed off on a lot of people.”

Irving went about his All-Star duties with his daughter, Azurie Elizabeth, nearby. This is Irving’s ninth All-Star appearance, and Azurie is nine years old, and the Mavs’ guard wanted to make this weekend a daddy-daughter date.

“I just got here (Friday) night and I feel like it’s been great,” Azurie said. “I think this weekend is going to be very memorable.”

Azurie said she’s looking forward to her dad’s team winning the All-Star game, and: “I want to see his jersey on him.” She also was taken aback by all the other All-Stars she was able to see.

“It looks so different,” Azurie said. “Like, Oh my God, there’s so many people from other teams. It’s like, oh, wait, there’s someone from the (Milwaukee) Bucks.

“Oh, wait, there’s someone from Boston. Oh, wait, there’s someone from LA. It’s just really exciting for me.”

It’s really excited for Irving, also, who explained to one reporter the secrets to his exceptional ball-handling skills.

“The secret to my handles, I was born with some anatomy gifts,” Irving said. “I was born with some big hands, but also what I lack in height I make up for it by being closer to the ground and being able to get around taller defenders.

“So, attacking people’s hips and being quick on my feet, I would say my footwork and then also hand placement (are advantages). Being able to handle that ball and also being able to see your opponent eye-to-eye while you’re dribbling, and to see the rim, too.”

Irving was also asked about the Mavs acquiring Anthony Davis and Max Christie from the Los Angeles Lakers for Luka Dončić in a trade earlier this month. A reporter asked Irving about “the noise” surrounding the trade.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it noise,” Irving said. “This is what drives the engine of our business. It’s the other side of our responsibility as artists or as athletes, is being engaging. Sometimes when you’re dealing with things in the public eye it’s not always going to be received the right way or positively by everybody, which is perfectly healthy and normal. But for me it’s just maintaining my focus on the main task at hand – my missions, my goals. Every day I wake up, that’s what I’m focused on. To include others is also a beautiful thing.

“I’m not on this journey alone. All of our emotions fluctuate when we really love what we do. I love the people that show up every day. They’re not going to be the same, but they’re going to be honest and transparent and work towards that goal, and that, for me, wins championships in this league.”

ORACLE ARENA SHOWN SOME LOVE: On the day after Valentine’s Day, the NBA staged its Media Day and also the HBCU Classic in Oakland at Oracle Arena, the former home of the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors played their home games at Oracle Arena from 1971 until 2019 when they moved to Chase Center in nearby San Francisco. In addition, the Warriors won three of their four NBA titles — in 2015, ’17 and ’18 — in Oracle Arena, so returning to the scene of so many celebratory moments meant a lot of Warriors guard Stephen Curry.

“This is a moment, for sure,” Curry said. “I think the idea of knowing we made the move to Chase Center and been in San Francisco the last six seasons, to have a little bit of a moment to honor and reminisce the 47 years that we played in this building, the 10 years that I had, growing up in the game inside of these walls, the energy in this building that can come back just like that, I’ve enjoyed it to the fullest.

“Having another opportunity to shine a light on the HBCUs and the game that’s being played, it is a moment that’s just truly Oakland, truly authentic to what I have experienced here, and it all matters. So, it’s pretty dope.”

Former Warriors forward Kevin Durant also thought it was “pretty dope” for the NBA pay homage to Oakland by bringing some events to Oracle Arena.

“I didn’t know anything would be up here at Oracle,” Durant said. “I thought we’d be doing everything at Chase. So, to kind of take the route that I used to take when I would come to the games is pretty cool.

“Nostalgic to see some of the stuff that I’ve seen when I was here. I’ve always got love for the Bay Area and the fans. I was grateful to play for them for three years.”

Durant played for the Warriors from 2016-19, and was the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals when they won back-to-back NBA championships in 2017 and again in ’18.

SILVER WEIGHS IN ON THE TRADE: During his press conference before All-Star Saturday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver weighed in on the Mavs securing Anthony Davis and Max Christie in a trade for Luka Dončić earlier this month.

“I’ve known Nico Harrison for a long time from his prior tenure at Nike, and I’ve gotten to be close to Patrick Dumont, our new governor in Dallas,” Silver said. “I can say one thing for sure: Whether or not history will ultimately judge this as a smart trade, they did what they thought was in the best interest of their organization. I have absolutely no knowledge or belief there were any ulterior motives. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Dumont and Adelson families bought that team to keep it in Dallas. I have no doubt whatsoever that they’re committed to the long-term success of that franchise.

“In terms of the Dallas fans, all I can say to them is again, time will tell whether it was a smart trade, but I think they should believe in their organization. Their organization truly made a trade that they believed was in the best interest of the organization, and in many cases, again, it doesn’t mean they were right or wrong, but it’s very difficult to put yourself in their shoes. They are living with the situation. They have a philosophical belief on what’s necessary ultimately to win championships, and I’m not in a position to second-guess that.

BRIEFLY: Milwaukee guard Damian Lillard was born and raised in Oakland and was thrilled the NBA decided to have some of its All-Star events in his hometown. Especially since the Golden State Warriors have moved to San Francisco, and the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and MLB’s Oakland A’s have moved to Las Vegas. “I thought it was a great idea, especially with what’s happening with the professional teams in Oakland right now,” Lillard said. “Growing up close by here, driving by and looking at the (Oakland) Coliseum and seeing Oracle and how dead it is, when there was so much energy in it when I was a kid with the Raiders, the A’s, the Warriors being here, concerts coming through here. I remember a lot about this parking lot. One of the first things I asked when I got here was, are they doing Saturday night at Oracle? Just because I would have loved to see that energy be here.” . . . Asked if he needs to win an NBA title so he can be mentioned in the same conversation with Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, this is what Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had to say: “You play the game to win, and that’s, at the end of the day, all that really matters. In my mind if you don’t win, you lost and if you lost, you failed. Now you learn through those failures and losses, but ultimately, I wake up in the morning to win, and if I don’t succeed in that in my career, I will have never accomplished what I wanted to.” . . . The San Antonio Spurs’ first game out of the All-Star break will be Thursday at the Moody Center ATX in Austin against the Phoenix Suns. That means Suns forward Kevin Durant will be back in the city where he played the 2006-07 season for the Texas Longhorns before he turned pro after his freshman season and became the No. 2 overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft behind Greg Oden. “I’m excited that we get to go back to play a regular season game there,” Durant said. “Austin is a place where I kind of started this journey, and to have so many friends and family that are still there from, what, 16, 17 years ago, is pretty sweet. So, I appreciate the NBA for setting this up. I’m going to try to roam around the city a little bit. I don’t have a set schedule, but I’ve got some stuff I want to see.” . . . Mac McClung became the first player in NBA history to win the Slam Dunk Contest three years in a row. McClung, a 6-2 guard who played at Texas Tech in 2022 and now plays in the G League for the Osceola Magic, had three perfect scores in taking home the title over San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle. McClung received perfect scores from the five judges when he jumped over a car and when he dunked two basketballs at once — one guy was on a ladder holding a basketball and another guy was holding a basketball while circling on a hoverboard. McClung also had Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (6-11) stand on a three-inch board and he jumped over him, then tapped the basketball on the front of the rim before dunking it. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers won the Skills Challenge and Miami’s Tyler Herro captured the Three-Point Contest with a one-point victory over Golden State’s Buddy Hield.

X: @DwainPrice