Kyrie Irving got candid while speaking at his Uncle Drew Circuit event in Las Vegas on Thursday night, revealing how tearing his ACL forced him to slow down and reevaluate what truly matters beyond basketball. 

The NBA star reflected on balancing his career with family, opening up about recent personal losses and calling the past year an “emotional rollercoaster.” Irving also shared his vision for Uncle Drew Circuit, explaining that he hopes to create a more community-focused alternative to the traditional AAU system by emphasizing education, character development and opportunities for young athletes instead of a pay-to-play model. 

The Blast was in attendance for Kyrie Irving’s Uncle Drew Circuit opening event on Thursday night at Coronado High School in Henderson, Nevada. With a full auditorium of teen hoopers, their parents, and coaches, Irving shared some wisdom, motivation, and answered questions from parents during the hour-long event. 

‘Young Bloods’ From Around The World Are At Uncle Drew Circuit In Las Vegas

Irving brought his Uncle Drew Circuit to Las Vegas for a four-day event for teenage basketball players. According to Uncle Drew Circuit’s website, “Founded by Kyrie Irving, the Uncle Drew Circuit is a new kind of youth basketball experience – built on craft, competition, and love for the game. From city to city, this is where Young Bloods earn it the right way.” 

Uncle Drew Circuit is “a series of competitive tournaments” where every team gets “the full pro treatment.” “This is about building players, mindset, and a lifelong love for basketball,” the website reads. 

The circuit was in Dallas, Texas in early May, and the second stop is now in Las Vegas (July 9-12). The third stop will be in Manalapan, New Jersey from July 16-19.

Kyrie Irving’s Opening Ceremony Packed The Auditorium of Coronado High School 

The Blast was in the front row of Irving’s event on Thursday night, surrounded by a packed house full of excited teenage hoopers who couldn’t wait for the chance to meet their NBA idol. 

“It’s an honor to be in front of you guys. Welcome to the second phase of Uncle Drew Circuit,” Irving said to the screaming crowd. “I used to get really nervous about being in front of a lot of people when I was a little bit younger, but one of the things I did when I was in high school is I ended up participating, you guys are gonna make fun of me but it’s fine, I want to share this with you guys. The reason why I bring this up is I wanted this circuit, the second part of this circuit, to feel like you’re getting out of your comfort zone.”

He then continued to explain that when he was in high school, he struggled with public speaking, would stutter over his words, and would be worried about what others thought. He explained that he needed to “really understand how to regulate myself” and get his thoughts out, so he participated in “High School Musical.”

“I had a singing part. I had to sing in front of the whole ton of people and it helped me face my fears,” he continued. “And that’s what we’re going to focus on this second phase of Uncle Drew is facing your fears.”

Kyrie Irving Had Some Thoughts For The Parents

For a few minutes, Irving turned his attention to all the parents in the audience, the ones who sacrificed time and money to get their child to Uncle Drew’s Circuit for the four-day event. 

“I’m just grateful that all of this comes to fruition. I come and stand in front of you guys as Kyrie Irving. Some of you know me as Kai or Hela, or Uncle Drew. I’m looking forward to putting on a great show for you guys that has the human perspective first,” he said. 

“I’m a parent. I have four children. I really care about them deeply and their future is being shaped every single day. And you parents understand the world that we’re in today, we have to protect our babies even more so. Please look out for your own children but also look out for others. Aunties, uncles, step up to the plate, please. If you see these kids not acting accordingly, you do not have to address them like they’re your own child, but please just take care of them and invite them into a conversation and let them know right from wrong.” 

He also shared that behind the scenes, he’s not ever looking for any recognition from anyone, because he does it all from the bottom of his heart. 

“I do not need the recognition,” he added. “I would love to see the follow through with families as we continue to help them.” 

The NBA Star Opened Up About Struggles And Tearing His ACL

Irving wanted the kids to know that he’s had a few losses this year and has been “dealing with a lot of an emotional rollercoaster.” After telling the crowd he’s praying for them, he talked about how he doesn’t take any of it for granted.

“When I get in front of you guys, it’s definitely an honor but something I don’t take for granted. I got up and took a breath, that means I had a chance to attack life today. I woke up; I had a chance,” he said. “And I continue on because we know how precious life can be.” 

He then opened up about his NBA career and what it’s been like after tearing his ACL.

“I’ve enjoyed an incredible NBA career, and it’s still continuing to build. Over this past year after tearing my ACL, it was the first time I got a chance to slow my life down, outside of being obsessive about my craft, and being truly engulfed in what I want to accomplish, sometimes I can lose sight,” he said.

“And I’m being honest, I can lose sight about what else is important to me, and that takes a second hand or it’s a second tier, and I want to make it a priority, but at the time, I’m being very entrenched or engulfed in what I love to do. I know it provides opportunities for me off the court as a man, but also on the court, it allows me to flourish, it allows me to be creative, it allows me to use basketball as a vehicle in a different way.” 

He shared that basketball has been an outlet, not an escape, in his life, and said he can now fully understand that as an adult.

Talking About AAU And How Uncle Drew Circuit Is Different

While taking questions from parents in the audience, Irving shared some thoughts on the ultimate goals of participating in Uncle Drew Circuit after a parent said he hopes they are doing something different from other circuits.

“Once thing I’m not going to do is over-promise anything that I myself cannot stand behind and that I cannot stand up here and authenticate for myself,” Irving said. “In terms of how we are creating the financial atmosphere, that’s all me as well. I don’t go anywhere else or ask anything else. I don’t have a huge sponsor coming in outside of the sponsor that you see, which I’ve known these friends since I was 19 years old getting drafted. It’s a very family-oriented deal.” 

Irving said that the first year was all about “landing somewhere safe” and “being able to be with partners that put education first with the kids.” 

“I understand that because I’ve existed in the AAU world prior to being in the NBA and it was a racket at that time. And a lot of rankings did come from paid individuals, or they were paid by individuals behind the scenes. We had no idea, you had to get lucky,” he added. “You had to be very fortunate enough to get into gold division or the silver division or the bronze division, and I was playing in the back back gyms when no one was coming to watch me. So my first few years at AAU were not fun.”

He continued by reiterating that this is a “family-oriented environment” and he cares what the parents have to say. 

For more information on Uncle Drew Circuit, visit the website.

The Kyrie Irving Opens Up About ACL Recovery And His Vision Beyond The NBA At Uncle Drew Circuit In Vegas first appeared on The Blast