“I was about to drop a tear,” Irving said about his reaction to reaching the 18,000 mark. “Just the past few years, the games that I’ve missed, and the injuries, I feel like I should have been at 18,000 a long time ago. It’s all God’s plan, so I’m not going to question it, but I’m grateful.” Reflecting on his career, Irving admitted he was surprised by the achievement as a smaller guard in the NBA. At 6-foot-2, he recognized the significance of his longevity and expressed his excitement to celebrate the milestone with his family. “When I heard that, I was like, ‘I’ve reached 18,000?’ That’s a lot of points in the best league in the world for a 6’1″ guard like myself. I’m excited to celebrate, not only with myself selfishly, but with my family, because they’ve been right there with me.”