LeBron James proud of Kyrie Irving but misses former partnership - ESPN

With Kyrie Irving set to play in his first NBA Finals since 2017 when the Boston Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks in Thursday's Game 1 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), his former teammate LeBron James admitted just how much he misses playing with the eight-time All-Star.

«I'm so f---ing happy and so proud to watch him continue his growth,» James told his co-host, JJ Redick, on an episode of their «Mind the Game» podcast released Tuesday. «I'm so f---ing mad at the same time that I'm not his running mate anymore.»

James and Irving played three seasons together with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to '17, making it to three straight Finals and winning the championship in 2016, with Irving hitting the title-clinching 3-pointer in Game 7 to beat the Golden State Warriors.

«I just remember those times,» James said.

Irving requested a trade out of Cleveland in the summer of 2017, in part to be able to showcase his game out from under James' shadow. Irving was dealt to Boston and a couple of seasons later, the two stars developed a deeper appreciation for each other when Irving reconnected with James for guidance on how to lead the young Celtics the way the four-time MVP had led the Cavs.

Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers were one of several teams to aggressively pursue Irving leading up to the trade deadline before the Brooklyn Nets ultimately sent him to Dallas in a package that included Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, an unprotected first-round pick in 2029 and two second-round picks. The Lakers' offer centered on Russell Westbrook and two future first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, sources told ESPN.

James, who openly lobbied for L.A. to acquire Irving, lamented the point guard landing with the Mavs at the time.

«I can't