BOSTON — The Boston Celtics closed Day 1 of training camp with a spirited intrasquad scrimmage and, if you were wondering how Kyrie Irving is doing coming back from knee surgery, he offered visual confirmation that he feels quite a bit like his old self.
In the media’s lone glimpse of Boston’s two-a-day session, Irving helped a white-clad starting unit that featured Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Al Horford rally from a six-point deficit and hit a scrimmage-winning 3-pointer with under three seconds to play.
"Kyrie looked like Kyrie. He was really good,” said Hayward.
Whispers that Irving has been his typical dazzling self abound this summer after his return to 5-on-5 games. Horford went so far as to suggest that Irving had gone to another level with his play from what he saw during Boston’s informal workouts leading up to camp.
But Irving’s 3-pointer, dribbling to his left off a Horford screen that pinned defender Terry Rozier, was proof that Irving might truly be pain-free after two procedures on a balky left knee that cost him playoff time in two of the past four seasons.
“Just to get started, it felt good,” said Irving. "I missed it. I missed being with the guys. Ready to get started, happy we all got to be out here with one another again. It’s high-level basketball.”
There is a Zen-like state about Irving as camp gets underway. He’s got a growing clod of hair that’s being held back by a thick headwrap. With a hoodie sprouting from his practice jersey and some rope bracelets around his wrist, Irving is the picture of peacefulness, a player overjoyed to be healthy and content with his situation.
And that, maybe more than what he’s shown physically, is what has resonated with his teammates.
“We’ve seen it more mentally than anything, “ said Jaylen Brown. "Especially when you have to be away from the game, it makes you make that much more hungry. I think that Kyrie is that much more focused on his craft and the goal that he wants to achieve. We’re right there along with him.”
Irving has spent the past few days saying everything he was maybe more reluctant to reveal at the start of the summer, offering hints — some less subtle than others -- that he’s quite content with his situation in Boston. He’s said how he daydreams about possibly having his No. 11 retired in the Garden rafters and gushed about how special the Celtics organization is, particularly after rubbing elbows with Bill Russell this summer.
Yes, Irving just keeps smiling. He smiles while talking about finally being back on the court with Hayward ("I was watching his highlights yesterday so I can’t wait to see him play. I’m so happy for him.”) He smiles about heading to North Carolina later this week and playing the team’s first exhibition game in the shadows of his beloved Duke University (" I can’t wait to get back to North Carolina and go eight miles down the road.”) And he smiles about how coach Brad Stevens overloaded the Celtics with sets on Day 1 of camp ("Brad did put in a s--- ton today, but that’s who he is. He’s a basketball genius for me.”)
Gone are the questions about why he wanted out of the shadow of LeBron James. Gone are the questions about his knee after the two surgeries removed the bothersome hardware from the original 2015 surgery that shortened a Finals appearance.
Outside of the chaos of promoting his “Uncle Drew” movie, Irving got the rare opportunity to rest this summer. And being away from basketball only seems to have heightened his appreciation for the game.
Now media sessions focus on things that make Irving light up. Like the play of Boston’s youngest players.
“[The young guys are] just so talented, man,” said Irving. "Sometimes you can just throw them the ball and they’ll get the bucket but also you just realize how smart they are as basketball players making plays, from the 2 and 3 spot, playing the 4. I’m excited to see even more of them.”
Or the chance to finally share the court with Hayward again.
“Think about how life has come full circle for me and Gordon,” said Irving. "In 2014, I was his host in Cleveland when he was a restricted free agent. I met him and [his wife] Robyn then and I think we are able to play together now, one year taken away from us. We’re just making up for lost time.
"He’s so talented. I’m a big fan. … I’ve been waiting to play with a two guard like Gordon. He’s even-keeled the whole game. You are able to throw it to him and he’s able to get you a bucket, but he’s smart too.”
This might just be what Irving craved so dearly when he left Cleveland. He has an ideal situation, a bright future, and is the star of a legitimate title contender.
Mentally, Irving is in a good place. And his 3-pointer at the end of that scrimmage suggests he’s just as well, physically.