The truth behind Kyrie Irving, ‘the most misunderstood man in sports’

Drederick Irving answered his phone and explained he was not interested in any extended back-and-forth about his son. He said he had his own time as a player in the ’80s and ’90s and mentioned he has a pact with Kyrie that he will not try to shape the public’s perception of him.

But in a brief, cordial conversation, the man the Brooklyn Nets’ point guard has called his hero, idol, best friend and favorite player made it clear he has not been pleased with the media’s recent coverage of his 29-year-old son. “Kyrie is probably the most misunderstood person in sports,” his father said. He talked a bit about his own basketball career at Boston University with the caller who had seen him play at Marist, where Drederick, then a spindly, 6-foot-4 sophomore, fearlessly penetrated and attacked a huge front line that included 7-4 Rik Smits, scoring 18 in a victory. Drederick rang up nearly 2,000 points at BU, got his jersey retired and got cut by the Celtics before lighting up a pro league in Australia, where Kyrie was born. All these years later, when the subject of his son’s philanthropy is raised, Drederick points out that Kyrie does not seek publicity for his good deeds.