Ethiopian Fan Flies Many Miles to See Kyrie Irving; Mavs Star Rewards Him

A fan flew from Ethiopia to see Dallas Mavericks' guard Kyrie Irving when they played the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, one diehard NBA fan flew across the world to see Kyrie Irving play … but unfortunately, Irving was out for his fifth consecutive game due to a thumb sprain.

The fan who flew from Ethiopia to see the Dallas Mavericks play the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center had a sign noting his trek and who he was there to 

"Came from Ethiopia Africa just to see Kyrie Irving," the sign read.

Although Irving didn't play, the fan didn't leave empty-handed. Before the game, the fan met up with the Mavs guard, and he gave him a pair of autographed shoes. 

This Kyrie Irving fan traveled all the way from Ethiopia to watch the Mavs take on the Timberwolves in Minnesota.

Despite being out tonight, Irving was kind enough to autograph his shoes and give it to his biggest fan 🙌

(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/4bXHYwVOda

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 1, 2024

This fan isn't the first to make a long trip only to not see their favorite player play. Last season, a fan flew over 4,000 miles from Argentina to Miami to see Jimmy Butler, but he was a late scratch due to a back injury. In January, another fan flew nearly 8,000 miles from Australia to see Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball in Sacramento, but he was sidelined with an ankle injury.

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To see Irving in Minnesota on Wednesday, that fan had to fly nearly 7,500 miles and spend at least $600 on a plane ticket. While he may not have gotten to witness Irving play in what was a Mavs’ 121-87 loss to the Timberwolves, he got a memory and a souvenir that will last him a lifetime.