CLEVELAND – Reporters have asked Kyrie Irving direct and indirect questions about why he wanted out of Cleveland.

No matter how reporters try to pry an answer from Irving, the seventh-year guard – who now plays for the Boston Celtics after requesting a trade in the summer – won’t divulge a straightforward answer.

“I kind of want to put that to rest in terms of everyone figuring out or trying to continue to dive into a narrative they have no idea about and probably will never, ever be divulged because it’s not important,” Irving said at Tuesday morning’s shootaround at Quicken Loans Arena. “This was literally just a decision I wanted to make solely based on my happiness and pushing my career forward. I don’t want to pinpoint anything. I will never pinpoint anything because that’s not what real grown-ups do. They continue to move on with their life and continue to progress and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

Irving – wearing a new pair of Nike shamrock basketball shoes – is in Cleveland for the first time as a visitor for tonight’s NBA season-opener between the Celtics and Cavaliers, and maintains he wanted to play for a team where he could be happy and maximize his potential.

It’s still not clear why he could no longer pursue those goals with the Cavaliers, the team with which he started his career, won a championship and played in three consecutive Finals.

The Cavaliers may honor Irving’s six years in Cleveland with a video tribute.

“It’s a great honor and (I’m) truly appreciative of all individuals that put the video together,” Irving said. “Those special relationships don’t go anywhere. Just excited to see a lot of old friends here and get on with the game.”

He wouldn’t even admit it was surreal to be in Cleveland as a Cavs opponent.

“I’m just glad to honestly get this moment started,” Irving said. “I think that me playing the game I love exceeds everything else that is going to transpire and what anybody else says – the narrative with all this. Just excited, like I said. I’m going to keep saying it over and over. Just excited to get this season started.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt