LeBron James stated his appreciation for Kyrie Irving's growth and maturity during an All-Star weekend media event.

"I think I've always loved Kyrie, from before I met him, until when I became his teammate, to even now. So the phone call, more than for me, I think just to see his growth...it takes a real man and a real person -- and a real person to understand who they are -- to be able to call or to do anything and be able to see their wrongdoings or believe they have some wrongdoings and then be able to come to grips with that and then be able to either apologize or say that, 'At that point and time, I thought I was ready for something, but I really wasn't,'" said James. 

James, who gave Irving advice on how to lead a young Celtics team, also praised how Irving handled the media speculation around the trade deadline earlier this month.