The internet was set abuzz last week when the Cleveland Cavaliers officially introduced rookie Collin Sexton and his No. 2 jersey. The last player to wear that number for the Cavs is current Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving.
The five-time All-Star, for his part, has no issue with the rookie taking his old number.
"Go ahead, do what you do. He wanted to wear the number, let him wear the number. It doesn't matter," Irving told reporters during a media session to promote his upcoming "Uncle Drew" movie, according to ESPN's Ian Begley.
"The number thing is like, just chalk that up to the game. It's cool. It's no hard feelings from my end. He just has to start at the chopping block just like everyone else did. So I'm excited for him," Irving said.
Sexton, who wore No. 2 while at Alabama, doesn't believe he has to live up to the legacy Irving left in Cleveland.
"Coming in, I'm going to set goals for myself and then as well there's going to be team goals set," he told reporters at his introductory press conference, according to Tom Withers of The Associated Press. "But I feel like I'm not going to have to live up to anybody's shoes, but I'm going to come in and learn and be the best player I can be on the court as well as off the court."
Irving, who helped bring the Cavs the franchise's only NBA championship, says he isn't worried about his legacy after all of his accomplishments with the team.
"The history, it's already captured, man. I was on one of the best teams in NBA history, in my opinion, just accomplishing something that was that much bigger than ourselves," Irving said about his title with the 2016 Cavaliers. "So for me, I think the biggest thing is giving that jersey [he wore in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals] to my dad. If that's where the No. 2 legacy ends, then cool. Then I'm starting up a new one. No pressure for anyone else."
