In the summer of 2017, Kyrie Irving got his wish as the Cavaliers sent him in a blockbuster trade to the Celtics. And former Knicks PG Nate Robinson was there to witness it all.
Irving and Robinson were both cast members on the set of the movie "Uncle Drew" when the All-Star point guard received word that he was shipping up to Boston.
Robinson reflected on the moment for SNY.
"I remember he found out right when we got done filming on one of the days, and he literally -- it was funny -- he literally took his mask off kinda like Jim Carrey did in the movie 'The Mask,'" Robinson remembered. "Took his whole mask off he was so happy. He ran off. He was like, 'Let's go!' He wanted to go to the gym and get straight to the gym and get some shots up."
The deal sent Irving to the Celtics in exchange for PG Isaiah Thomas, C Ante Zizic, F Jae Crowder and a future first-round pick. Robinson recalls Irving being extremely happy to be heading to a place he wanted that offseason.
That moment and many more opened Robinson's eyes up to another side of Irving, one he is appreciative he got to experience.
"Kyrie was ecstatic," Robinson said. "He was really, really happy to be in a place that he really wanted to be in and it was pretty cool just to witness it all. Him, in between takes, me going to work out with him and really getting to know him besides just being on the court all the time. He's a really cool dude."
Irving, of course, isn't in Boston anymore. He's now made his way back home, playing for the Brooklyn Nets along with Kevin Durant. It was another move he was ecstatic to make, as Irving noted his Nets fandom growing up in New Jersey.