Kyrie Irving slammed Bill Simmons for calling D’Angelo Russell tiresome, calling the critique unfair and out of line.

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving publicly criticized The Ringer’s Bill Simmons for comparing teammate D’Angelo Russell to a guest who’s enjoyable briefly but becomes tiresome, calling the remark unfair and something Simmons wouldn’t say in person. The comment, made on Simmons’s podcast, questioned Russell’s long-term fit despite his strong regular-season performance. Irving defended Russell on social media, emphasizing his value to the team as the starting point guard during Irving’s recovery from an ACL tear. The exchange reflects ongoing tensions between players and media analysts over player evaluations and team chemistry.