NBA star Kyrie Irving was recently seen vacationing on Crete, Greece, following surgery to fix a broken left hand.
The Dallas Mavericks guard was spotted with his family on his way to the popular Canale restaurant in Chania. The 32-year-old American dined with the restaurant’s owner, Maximos Petrochilos, and manager, Giorgos Chlorakis. He enjoyed the Cretan cuisine so much that he generously left a €500 tip for the staff, according to Mykonoslive.tv.
Irving injured his hand earlier this month during training, and his return timeline remains uncertain. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the team is optimistic he will be ready for the training camp.
Irving and the Mavericks recently made it to the NBA Finals, their first appearance since 2011 when Dirk Nowitzki led them to their only championship, though they were defeated by the Boston Celtics in five games.
CBS notes that in the 58 games he played last season, Irving averaged 25.6 points, five rebounds, and 5.2 assists, with impressive shooting splits of 49.7/41.1/90.5. He was close to joining the ranks of Larry Bird, Steve Nash, and Kevin Durant as players with multiple 50/40/90 seasons.
Despite these strong performances, Irving missed out on a ninth All-Star selection due to injuries, including a heel contusion that sidelined him for 12 games in December. These setbacks also prevented him from meeting the new 65-game requirement for major awards, excluding him from All-NBA consideration, CBS reports.
Though he didn’t receive his usual accolades, Irving arguably played his best in years, particularly during the playoff run to the finals. His partnership with Luka Doncic was so effective that some analysts questioned whether they were the best offensive backcourt ever.
Irving is also known for his controversial stances, which have often overshadowed his basketball talent. His promotion of an antisemitic film led to significant backlash and an NBA suspension, and his non-compliance with New York City’s vaccine mandate resulted in a lengthy absence from the Brooklyn Nets. Additionally, his public endorsement of the Flat Earth theory, a debunked idea, has further tarnished his reputation. These issues have led to ongoing scrutiny of his judgment and the broader impact of his actions.
