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Kyrie Irving has aligned himself with Brazilian superstar Neymar when asked to compare himself to a footballer ahead of gracing The O2 for the NBA Global Games on Thursday.

The Boston Celtics superstar has led the Boston Celtics to a three-game lead at the top of the East after being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer.

Irving will lead the C's against the Philadelphia 76ers in London tomorrow on the court but revealed his appreciation for the beautiful game.

"If I could compare myself to any footballer it would be PSG star Neymar," Irving told Mirror Sport. "He scores goals man.

"I’m glad to see that he’s happy now [after joining Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona]. Neymar is my favourite player – he’s my boy."

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: USA TODAY Sports)

Despite emerging from LeBron's shadow, Irving has bought into Brad Stevens' unselfish brand of ball.

Quiet and unassuming in his own house at the TD Garden, Irving enjoys a quick game of solitaire with enormous headphones shutting off the clamour in the changing room. He drops 36 points against the Sixers in December's preview of the London game, further confirming his seamless transition to his new team.

The long-haul trip could be seen as a road block or a nuisance for the C's, yet Irving insists there is "nothing more exciting" than taking the game across the globe.

Despite intense pressure to deliver on the court, the 25-year-old prides himself on being an "ambassador in life." Celtics fans have needed to be patient mind, enduring a miserable 25-win season in 2013-14 before breaking through last season in the Conference Finals.

But this season has finally seen executive Danny Ainge assemble a championship-calibre team with Irving revelling in his role as a mentor to super talents Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

"I’m just being as truthful as I can [to the young players]," Irving explained. "Just giving them [the young players] energy when they need it and guidance.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) (Image: USA TODAY Sports)

"I think the key part of helping lead these guys is to give them space and allow them to make mistakes and to learn and grow.

"I just give them advice when they need it. I always have an open door for them and I’m an ultimate believer of who they are as people but around the court in their talents too.

"I give them a lot of confidence and exude a lot of confidence in them so that they feel comfortable out there just being themselves – they play at a high level."

Irving's leap of faith to agitate for a trade last year was a difficult move in itself, but after six years in Cleveland, the former Duke point guard admits he experienced nerves entering his new environment.

"I think it was just everybody as everything was new when I first walked into the locker room," Irving recalls. "I was nervous about how I was going to be out there on the parquet floor.

"There’s a lot of history out there, with a lot of guys having come here throughout the organisation and there is a standard that you have to hold to being a Boston Celtic.

"This is something that I truly try to execute every time that I’m on the floor and as a person in the community. It’s always fun but on and off the court you’ve just got to be the best you."

(Image: USA TODAY Sports) (Image: USA TODAY Sports)

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Optimism over a new dawn in Boston immediately dissipated on opening night when Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome, season-ending injury.

But together with Stevens, Irving and co. surprised many by rattling off a 16-game win streak to take command of the East and keep alive hopes of dethroning LeBron and the Cavs.

"By just having fun out there and letting them know that we still have some challenges to face out there this season," Irving explained when asked how the Celtics have managed to remain on course for a title.

"We’re hitting them step-by-step, but there will be some challenging games where we will be playing against some high-level teams.

"We played against them early but the tell-tale sign of a great team is how they progress throughout the season. When you see us in London, it’ll be a different looking team. It’s just interesting to see how teams progress."

The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics at The O2 in London on Jan. 11 as part of NBA London Game 2018. The game is live on BT Sport or via NBA LEAGUE PASS.