Kyrie Irving is 'ecstatic' to join the Mavs, but NBA fans recall that he has used that exact phrase before

Kyrie Irving is on his way from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks, and he is reportedly looking forward to his time with the new franchise.

Who wouldn’t be excited to play alongside Luka Doncic? Irving will join forces with a 23-year-old MVP candidate who is currently averaging 33.4 points as well as 8.9 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game.

According to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, Irving is said to be “ecstatic” about the trade from the Nets to the Mavericks. Irving could make his debut for Dallas as soon as Wednesday when they play against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

Kyrie Irving is said to be “ecstatic” about the trade to Dallas Mavericks and “looking forward” to joining forces with Luka Dončić, a league source tells @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 5, 2023

We can take Irving’s word and believe him when he says that he is genuinely excited to suit up for Dallas. But there is one not-so-tiny problem that should not be forgotten.

NBA fans have heard this song and dance from Irving before, and he hasn’t even changed the lyrics. For example, while some worried that he may have wanted to leave Cleveland before LeBron James returned in 2014, he signed a five-year, $190 million extension.

Here is what he said when he signed this deal with the Cavs in 2014:

“I’m here for the long haul Cleveland!!!! And I’m ecstatic!!” Irving wrote on his Twitter account shortly after the agreement was reached. “Super excited and blessed to be here and a part of something special.”

Does that phrasing sound familiar? Irving said he was “ecstatic” and it ended up becoming a theme during his professional career.

Have been told that Kyrie is "ecstatic" about the trade, looking forward to playing for Brad Stevens and understand the #Celtics tradition.

— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) August 31, 2017

While he eventually won a title alongside James in Cleveland, Irving later request a trade from the Cavs. When he was finally moved to the Celtics in August 2017, Irving once again said he was (you guessed it!) “ecstatic” about starting this new chapter.

He didn’t last long in Boston, however, and the two parties moved closer and closer to an inevitable divorce before the Celtics were eventually eliminated in the postseason.

Irving later left the Celtics for the Nets during free agency in summer 2019.

Now that his time with the Nets has concluded as well, we should believe Irving when he says that he is “ecstatic” about getting a chance to start over and play for a contender in the Western Conference.

But just because he uses words like this now does not mean that it will be his tune during his entire tenure in Dallas.

For example, according to league insider Marc Stein, Irving has “not been promised” a new contract with the Mavericks. Will the All-Star guard remain to be “ecstatic” as Dallas management takes a “wait and see” approach about a potential new deal?

The Athletic’s John Hollinger reportedly spoke to several executives, and they wondered if this trade “ends up pushing Dončić to seek the exits” once everything is all said and done. It is hard to imagine that Irving would still be ecstatic then.

If all goes well, Irving will have a normal and distraction-free tenure with the Mavericks that ends up with him winning his first title sans LeBron. If it blows up again, as it has at his previous stops, fans will remember why they were initially skeptical to hear he was ecstatic about the trade.