Kyrie Irving is eyeing an early retirement.
Ahead of Boston's Friday night game against Atlanta, the 26-year-old Celtics star was asked of he could envision himself in the league past the age of 40. Irving doesn't plan on it.
"No, no. Once I'm done with this, hopefully in my early to mid-30s, I'm done with this," he told ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps, before reiterating his appreciation for the game. "I love basketball itself. But everything that comes with it? It doesn't really matter to me, in terms of my life. I enjoy the game, I enjoy being with my teammates, playing every single day."
Since going pro at 19, Irving has established himself as one of the strongest point guards in the NBA. The former No. 1 overall pick has racked up plenty of notable accolades, including a Rookie of the Year title, five All-Star selections, and an NBA championship with the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers.
"Being an NBA player, this is a dream I've had since I was a kid," he said Friday. "I think everything else that comes with it doesn't hold the same stature it once did. But I enjoy it, though. I love this game."
Irving made headlines earlier this week when a journalist wished him a happy Thanksgiving. The athlete, who was inducted into the Lakota tribe back in August, reportedly replied, "I don't celebrate that s**t. F**k Thanksgiving." Irving received a lot of heat for the comment and eventually issued an apology via Twitter.
