Chapter 345: The Real Big Boss.
The Bulls advanced past the first round, eliminating the Wizards in six games.
In his duel against John Wall, Kyrie Irving had the upper hand, averaging 26 points and 7 assists on 46.8% shooting for the series—a strong performance that showcased just how much he had improved after spending two and a half seasons alongside Han Sen.
Now, fate had set up a Cavaliers-Bulls showdown in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Their first regular-season matchup after the trade had already been explosive—now, with a playoff series on the line, tensions were sky-high before the first game had even tipped off.
Before flying to Cleveland, a reporter asked Irving about the difference between playing in Chicago versus Cleveland.
"Chicago is a real big city, always alive, always full of energy—especially at night. When I drive around, I can feel it. This is a true sports city, something Cleveland never had."
On the surface, Irving's words weren't outright offensive. Chicago was undeniably a larger, more established sports city than Cleveland. Even after Han Sen delivered a championship, Cleveland was still playing catch-up in terms of market size and reputation.
But the problem wasn't just what Irving said—it was who he was saying it about.
Dissing a team was one thing.
Dissing an entire city?
That was another level of disrespect.