Irving: I was 'unbelievably craving' an intellectual coach like Stevens

Kyrie Irving is thrilled about his new coach.

The All-Star point guard, who joined the Boston Celtics via trade during the offseason, praised Brad Stevens for his basketball knowledge, humility, and focus on his craft and family.

"That was something that I was unbelievably craving in terms of what I wanted in terms of my career," Irving said on "Holding Court with Geno Auriemma."

"Brad fits perfectly in terms of that, because he's an intellectual mind and a great human being."

Related: Irving 'ecstatic' about Celtics trade, playing for Stevens

Stevens, 41, is well respected around the league and is hailed as one of the premier bench bosses for his basketball IQ, plays, and ability to manage players.

The former Butler coach has helped expedite Boston's rebuild, having gone from a lottery team in his first season to the Eastern Conference finals last year. Entering his fifth campaign at the helm, Stevens has had to work in 11 new players, yet the Celtics haven't missed a beat. The club, which finished with the top record in the East in 2016-17, has begun this campaign with a league-best 7-2 record.

Related: Celtics 1st team ever to win 7 straight after 0-2 start

Irving is leading the way for the team with 22.1 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per contest. His previous coaches on the Cleveland Cavaliers included Tyronn Lue, David Blatt, Mike Brown, and Byron Scott.