Childhood and Education Journey of Kyrie Irving in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Kyrie Irving, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Kyrie Irving is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. Drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011, he was named Rookie of the Year. Irving is a nine-time All-Star, a three-time All-NBA Team selection, and won an NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016. He is known for his exceptional ball-handling skills and scoring ability.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

March 23, 1992: Kyrie Irving's Birth

On March 23, 1992, Kyrie Andrew Irving, a future professional basketball player, was born.

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2004: Drederick Irving remarried

In 2004, Drederick Irving remarried to Shetellia Riley, who is currently Kyrie Irving's agent.

October 22, 2009: Committed to Duke

On October 22, 2009, Kyrie Irving committed to Duke University in a television broadcast on ESPNU.

May 2011: Irving Promises to Finish Degree

In May 2011, Kyrie Irving made a promise to his father to finish his bachelor's degree at Duke within five years.

2011: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in Highschool

In 2011, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was widely regarded as one of the best players in the class while Kyrie Irving was attending St. Patrick High School.

2012: Irving Contends for Australian Olympic Team

In 2012, Kyrie Irving was in contention for a position on the Australian team for the 2012 Olympics, but he chose to focus on selection for the United States national team instead.

2015: Screw Removal Surgery

In March 2018, Kyrie Irving was ruled out for the entire postseason after another procedure was scheduled to remove two screws from his patella that were inserted in 2015 to repair a fracture he suffered during that year's NBA Finals.

January 2016: Irving Enters Relationship with Kehlani

From January 2016, Kyrie Irving was in a relationship with singer Kehlani.

March 2016: Irving's Relationship with Kehlani Causes Controversy

In March 2016, Kyrie Irving's relationship with singer Kehlani caused a Twitter media controversy after singer PartyNextDoor posted an Instagram photo of Kehlani's hand while in bed together, and people assumed she had cheated on Irving. Irving stated they had broken up before the incident.

November 2016: Irving Supports Standing Rock Water Protectors

In November 2016, Kyrie Irving tweeted his support for the water protectors at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation who were demonstrating against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

2016: Irving Focuses on Selection for United States Olympic Team

In 2016, Kyrie Irving elected not to represent his nation of birth (Australia), instead focusing on selection for the United States national team for the 2016 Olympic Games.

2016: Irving Puts Degree Plans on Hold

In 2016, having not achieved his degree, Kyrie Irving claimed he was putting his plans on hold, stating, "when I leave the game of basketball, then I'll focus on the next step of my life."

2016: Irving Moves to Plant-Based Diet

Starting with the 2016–2017 season, Kyrie Irving moved to a predominantly plant-based diet.

February 2017: Irving States Belief Earth is Flat

In February 2017, Kyrie Irving stated in an interview for a podcast that he believes that the Earth is flat.

July 2017: Trade Request from Cavaliers

In July 2017, Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Cavaliers, expressing a desire to be a primary focus on his own team.

September 2017: Irving Denies Flat Earth Claims

In September 2017, Kyrie Irving denied his earlier flat Earth claims and said that media misunderstood him as he was joking.

December 2017: Irving References Plant-Based Diet in Nike Ad

In December 2017, Kyrie Irving referenced his predominantly plant-based diet in a Nike ad.

June 2018: Irving Questions Earth's Shape

In a June 2018 interview, Kyrie Irving, when asked if he would admit that the world is round, said, "I don't know. I really don't", and added that people should "do [their] own research for what [they] want to believe in" because "Our educational system is flawed".

August 2018: Irving Honored at Standing Rock Indian Reservation

In August 2018, Kyrie Irving and his older sister were honored with a "welcome home" ceremony at Standing Rock Indian Reservation, acknowledging their family ties to the community, and in gratitude for Irving's activism on behalf of the water protectors at the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

October 2018: Irving Apologizes for Flat Earth Comments

In October 2018, Kyrie Irving apologized for his original flat Earth comments but stopped short of saying whether he still believed that the Earth is flat.

2018: Trade to the Celtics

In 2018, Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Žižić, and a first-round draft pick.

2018: Irving Begins Relationship with Marlene Wilkerson

Since 2018, Kyrie Irving has been with Marlene Wilkerson and they have two sons together.

July 7, 2019: Signed with Brooklyn Nets

On July 7, 2019, Kyrie Irving signed a four-year, $136.5 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets in free agency.

2020: Irving Donates to Social Causes

In 2020, Kyrie Irving, through his K.A.I. Family Foundation, donated a home to the family of George Floyd, paid off student debt for students from Lincoln University, committed $1.5 million to help pay WNBA players who opted out of playing during the COVID-19 pandemic, donated over $300,000 to food banks and with City Harvest, and donated 17 pallets of food to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

2020: Compensation for Thomas' failed physical

In 2020, The Celtics sent the Cavaliers a second-round draft pick via the Miami Heat to complete the trade, as compensation for Isaiah Thomas' failed physical.

July 29, 2021: Irving Builds Solar Water Center in Pakistan

On July 29, 2021, Kyrie Irving, through his K.A.I. Family Foundation, built a solar water center in Pakistan with Paani Project.

October 12, 2021: Ineligible to Play/Practice due to Vaccine Mandate

On October 12, 2021, the Nets announced that Kyrie Irving would be ineligible to play or practice with the team due to the New York City COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

October 2021: Speculation that Irving was Excluded from NBA 75th Anniversary Team List

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and Kyrie Irving's hesitancy to receive a vaccine against the virus, and sharing and interacting with social media posts from a conspiracy theorist on Instagram, it was speculated that in October 2021, Irving was excluded from the NBA 75th Anniversary Team list.

2021: Opted into player option

Following the end of the 2021–22 season, there was speculation that Irving would decline his player option and pursue a sign-and-trade deal with another team. Irving ultimately opted into his $37 million player option, returning to the Nets for the 2022–23 NBA season.

2021: Irving Becomes Enrolled Member of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

In 2021, Kyrie Irving's petition for citizenship was granted and he became an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

February 2022: NYC Vaccine Mandate Controversy

In February 2022, New York City mayor Eric Adams announced that the city would be lifting its vaccine requirement for indoor activities on March 7. However, Irving remained subject to a different workplace vaccine mandate. Adams stated that creating an exemption for Irving would "send the wrong message".

September 15, 2022: Irving Shares Alex Jones Video

On September 15, 2022, Kyrie Irving shared a video on his Instagram story featuring a rant by InfoWars creator and far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

October 27, 2022: Irving Tweets Link to Anti-Semitic Film

On October 27, 2022, Kyrie Irving tweeted a link to an Amazon listing page for Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, a 2018 film based on a book of the same name, which promotes Black Hebrew Israelite ideology.

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October 29, 2022: Irving Responds to Anti-Semitism Accusations

On October 29, 2022, Kyrie Irving tweeted that deeming him antisemitic was "not justified", and that he intended to "learn from all walks of life and religions." The same day, during a postgame press availability at Barclays Center, Irving denied having any religious biases and defended the tweet, telling reporters that history is not supposed to be hidden from anybody.

November 3, 2022: Suspension by Nets

On November 3, 2022, the Nets suspended Kyrie Irving for at least five NBA games due to his failure to "unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs" and said that he is "currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets."

February 6, 2023: Kyrie Irving Traded to the Dallas Mavericks

On February 6, 2023, Kyrie Irving, along with Markieff Morris, was traded by the Nets to the Dallas Mavericks. The Nets received Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and second-round picks in 2027 and 2029 in exchange.