Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving doesn't plan on testing free agency next summer. And that's not just a report from some anonymous source, it's coming from Kyrie himself.
At a special event for season ticket holders at the TD Garden Thursday night, Irving told Brian Scalabrine, "I've shared it with some of my teammates as well as the organization as well as everyone else in Boston. If you guys will have me back, I plan on re-signing here next year."
The 26-year old point guard is entering the final year of the five-year, $94 million contract but he does have a player option to remain with the Celtics for the 2019-20 season. According to ESPN, Irving could have signed an extension with the Celtics this past summer, though he would have potentially left more than $80 million on the table than if he waited and re-signed with the Celtics next summer.
Among the teams hoping the five-time All-Star changes his mind and decides to opt out of his contract after this season is the New York Knicks, who reportedly view Irving as their "first, second, third and fourth choice" of potential free agents. If Irving's comments Thursday night are to be believed, the Knicks and other hopeful franchises will have to change course in their plans for the summer of 2019.