Kyrie Irving x Foot Locker ‘Week of Greatness’

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by Abe Schwadron@abe_squad

Before his Cavaliers suffered a 114-101 loss to the Nets in Brooklyn on Tuesday, reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving stopped by Foot Locker’s “Week of Greatness” launch event in New York City to help unveil his new TV commercial and preview FL’s holiday retail sneaker lineup.

With kicks on display ranging from Nike’s Pink Foamposites and LeBron Xs to adidas’ Rose 3.0 and more, media and VIPs were treated to finger foods—and yes, an open bar—before Uncle Drew himself arrived to show off his new spot. He stuck around to autograph a few issues of KICKS 15, too.

In the midst of it all, we caught up with Kyrie, albeit briefly. Here’s what was on his mind Monday, before he went for 34 points and 8 dimes on Tuesday at Barclays Center—a homecoming of sorts for the New Jersey native.

On seeing himself in commercials so early in his career…

“It’s truly a blessing, more or less for my family and myself. And to have the Cleveland Cavaliers incorporated in all of this, and to get national TV exposure—we don’t get that much of that here. So it’s a blessing.”

On if there’s a different feeling around the Cavs team this season…

“Absolutely. Last year was the lockout, guys were injured, and it was hard to win games. But this season we have the pieces to win games. We’ve proven that. There hasn’t been one game where we’ve gotten blown out except for Chicago. We’ve been in every single game. So we just got to compete every day.”

On taking more shots and looking to score more this season…

“Yeah, that’s my role on the team. In order for us to win, I’m going to have to score a little bit more. And I’m in better shape this year, so I can do it. The confidence that my teammates have in me, I have in myself—that’s my role on the team.”

On getting a backcourt sidekick of the future in Dion Waiters…

“It makes my job that much easier.”