That is the view of NBA expert Haley O’Shaughnessy.
Irving told ESPN that he felt the season had been testing for the Boston Celtics, in part due to their young roster.
He also seemed to suggest that his team-mates lacked maturity and professionalism, by stating that those are characteristics needed by ‘great’ players.
The Celtics have been performing well below expectations this season, having been backed to make it to the NBA Finals in pre-season.
They are currently fourth in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, 6.5 games back from leaders Milwaukee Bucks.
Last year, however, the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals, only to be beaten by the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers.
What made that feat more impressive was the fact that they did so without Irving, who had his season ended in April due to injury.
And O’Shaughnessy explained that she felt that Irving was wrong to say what he did in public.
“They are capable of doing a lot more than they are doing,” she said on The Ringer NBA podcast.
“Last year they went to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Terry Rozier played the most minutes of anyone in the playoffs on the Celtics during that stretch, and after him it was Jayson Tatum and Al Horford, then it was Jaylen Brown, and they went that far.
“And to say it in this way that they can do a lot more than they’re doing, that’s got to make guys feel very disrespected.
“That’s absolutely not the way to encourage them to play up to a different level, even if they’re having a reduced role.”
Irving has been in the news in recent weeks due to his upcoming free agency, but has insisted that he does not want to discuss where he will play next season.
However, rumours persist that he will leave the Celtics for the New York Knicks, along with fellow free agent Kevin Durant, who can opt out of his contract with the Golden State Warriors this summer.