Kyrie Irving has built one of the most accomplished careers in NBA history. He hit the game-winning shot in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win the franchise’s first championship and has earned nine All-Star selections and three All-NBA honors.

But while Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and other NBA stars continue playing into their late 30s and beyond, Irving is unsure whether he wants to extend his career that far.

Irving said the league has changed drastically since he entered it in 2011, though his “eternal flame” for basketball continues to burn.

“You have social media and gambling which is running rampant and it’s not the same NBA that I fell in love with as a kid and I’m very much aware of that. And I don’t say that as a negative thing, it’s just when I came in, we were not doing like tipping and gambling meetings. You know, kind of talking about these things that are going on on social media and mental health was like this foreign subject …like nobody ever talked about it in 2011, so I think that the game has changed, it’s become less human, it’s more robotic. And I think my next few years, I kind of look at it as like, do I really love that aspect of it? I love the playing, I love the competition, but do I love all the hoopla that goes into it.”

Irving also discussed his desire to be present for his family and explained why he does not necessarily share the same longevity goals as players such as LeBron James.

“I love those guys, but I don’t share the same sentiments as them in certain cases,” he said. “ I’ve been able to put the NBA in perspective coming in at 19, (and playing) 16 years. I don’t look at it as comparing my years to other people, but just how much love I still have for it and it’s not just for basketball.

“I’m fully aware of just my position and purpose and figure and just playing in the NBA. So basketball is eternal flame. It always will, but I don’t see myself playing in the NBA at 42, 43.”

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