Kyrie FaceTimed Kobe after winning championship
With Game 7 of the NBA Finals tied with under a minute remaining, Kyrie Irving drilled a fadeaway 3-pointer over Stephen Curry, and the Cavaliers went on to close out the contest, and the series, to end Cleveland's title drought.
Uncle Drew was an NBA champion for the first time in his career, and there was one special person with whom he wanted to bask in the glory.
"I actually FaceTimed Kobe (Bryant) after the game as soon as I got in the locker room," Irving told Jeffrey Eisenband of ThePostGame.com. "Other than seeing my dad and my sister right after we won, FaceTiming him was just a great thing, knowing how he has won five and I just won my first. Then realizing how hard it is just to win one, my respect for him is already high, but it went to another level knowing that he's got five of them."
The newly retired Black Mamba commended the 24-year-old, supporting him as he'd been throughout the campaign.
"(Bryant) was telling me congrats," Irving said of the conversation. "I had been speaking to him throughout the entire playoffs and during the season. During the Finals, we didn't really talk as much, because for me, I wanted to experience it full on, and if I needed his help, I would reach out to him. He would send me some texts here and there, but mainly he kind of let me be, and let me grow into my own space."
Irving feels fortunate to play while Bryant was still in the league, and to learn from him.
"I would say the last two years has been great just from a mental aspect, as well as being a pupil and a student of the game, and also of his," he explained. "I'm really just watching and studying as much as possible to make sure I am getting the full potential out of myself and my teammates, and ultimately, winning basketball games and becoming the best player I can be."
Irving averaged 27.1 points, 3.9 dimes, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor and 40.5 percent from long range in the Finals.