The preface is not uncommon, and whenever it reaches the air at the start of a question, Kyrie Irving is certain to provide a swift correction.

As the leader of this team . . .

“One of the leaders,” Irving will say before the next syllable can leave the reporter.

It is as much a statement of fact as it is a declaration of his philosophy, an approach he has clearly pondered greatly, for nothing Irving does is accidental. He studied the leadership of others, added his own DNA and reached his conclusion.

As the Celtics’ best player (and one of just two, with Aron Baynes, who has NBA championship jewelry), he can do as he damn well pleases. Instead, Irving draws from the guidance that can be provided by others — Al Horford’s calmness, Marcus Smart’s fire, etc. — and strikes an inclusive tone.

And the Celts will need all of that and more as they reconvene from the All-Star break and try to steer out of a 6-9 skid.

“I think inclusive is a good word,” said coach Brad Stevens. “I think that he has come in and tried to fit in with everybody, treat everybody really well. And he hasn’t tried to be a dominant voice. He’s just tried to be a really good teammate who soars with his strengths, and I’ve always thought that that’s the best way to not only lead but also gain the trust of others.

“And he’s done it in a great way. He’s been very consistent with it. He’s let the coaches coach, and he’s let everybody else do what they do best.”

Irving understands, Stevens said, that leadership isn’t just being the loudest voice.

“Part of it is figuring everybody out and then figuring out how you can best serve their needs,” he said.

As a thinker himself, Stevens has seen through the false narratives one traditionally attaches to the concept.

“When you want to peg a guy as a leader, you have all these qualities that maybe are archaic in some ways,” he said. “It starts with being yourself and serving others, and he’s done a really good job of that.”

Just the thought of Irving being anything other than himself brings a laugh. His need to explore the bounds himself led Irving to ask out of Cleveland last summer. Some in that organization may still have trouble understanding his point of view. Former teammate Richard Jefferson gets it.

“I just think he’s a very intelligent guy,” said Jefferson, now a Nugget. “He’s one of the better minds that I’ve been around. I sat behind him for two years and watched him watch Jordan clips and Kobe clips and all these different things. At the end of the day people keep trying to figure out who his influences are, but through it all, he’s his own guy. He’s his own individual. His relationship with his father is big, but however he chooses to do something, he’ll be the most thought-out person. And then he’ll tell you something funny like the world is flat. So he’s doing whatever he wants to do.

“His leadership style may change five years from now or six years from now, but he’s going to be himself. He’s going to be the product of all the things he processes.”

While some question LeBron James’ mode of leadership, Jefferson strongly defends him. But it’s fair to believe Irving wouldn’t have been able to stretch himself fully in that environment.

“I think that that happens often,” said Celtic president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “Like I remember how great it was for me to see how Tony Allen was a leader after he left us and went to Memphis. Even with (Mike) Conley and (Marc) Gasol on the team, he was the leader in their locker room.

“So I think sometimes it is just an opportunity, and Kyrie’s obviously the best player on the team and guys look up to him and respect him. He puts his work in. And so, yeah, his voice is probably a lot more of a voice with us than he’s had in the past. I think that that’s good to feel that responsibility and that leadership.”

Ainge paused.

“Even though he’s still a young kid in a lot of ways, he’s been through a lot,” he said. “He understands that you don’t panic when you go through a tough time. Everybody goes through these things. We’re still in good position. So I think his experience, playing on NBA championship teams, is invaluable.”

The fact Irving hit the biggest shot in Cavaliers’ history resonates with the current Celtics.

“He understands what it takes,” Horford said.

How does Irving lead?

“One is he leads by example, and the other one is he understands that in order for us to be successful, you need multiple guys, multiple leaders in the locker room,” Horford said. “And I feel like he’s doing a good job balancing that.”

He should, after all the work he’s put in on the matter. Even as he’s making his spin moves, circus shots and seemingly abstract art on the court, Irving is very much a man with a plan.

It’s the same with the way he chooses to use his influence.

“It’s something I’ve dedicated myself to and something that I take very serious,” Irving said. “I feel like some of that can get put under the rug when people try to put their own opinions on things and put their feelings on certain actions or decisions that are made throughout the league or on the team. I’m pretty even-keeled because I’m human. That’s just the way I was taught. That’s the way I was raised. I think it’s great to be consciously aware, just your words and how much meaning they have and the impact what you say can have on other people. But I feel like if you’re being honest, then it doesn’t really matter.

“I just feel like there are so many nuances to becoming successful in this league, and I feel like it’s great to talk about it and get it across to everyone who listens.”

Irving acknowledges that he has learned from both the good and bad, adapting what doesn’t work with his own personality.

“That’s part of life though,” he said. “That’s part of life. I think that in any environment you’re in or any situation you’re in, you should take positives and negatives and you should weigh them out for yourself and see what specific traits you want to add to yourself. That’s just learning and life. Positives and negatives, they come in waves.”

Thus far, Irving has shown that he will share the Celtic positives and try to accept the brunt of the downturns.

“This is mainly on me,” he said after the Celts’ loss to the Clippers last Wednesday.

In other words, you’ll probably never hear Irving referring to teammates as his “supporting cast.”

Horford laughed at the thought.

“I don’t know about that,” he said, “but what I can tell you is that he’s thinking team first, and we feel it, and that’s what’s most important.”

In good times, yes.

In times of stress, even more so.