"A minute before he stepped onto the stage to begin his NBA career, Kyrie Irving heard the boos.

They were not meant for him, of course. Here in Newark, just a few miles from where the West Orange native became a high school star at St. Patrick, he gets nothing but love.

No, they were meant for the player who flashed briefly on the screen at the Prudential Center , wearing a white suit and a smile. The scoreboard screen was showing the other No. 1 overall picks of the Cleveland Cavaliers, starting with Austin Carr and Brad Daugherty.

Then came LeBron James. And, just in case Irving needed a reminder of the wounds he'll be expected to help heal in Cleveland, the anger filled the arena just before he shook David Stern's hand."