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What’s the meaning behind Mavericks star Kyrie Irving’s ‘Hélà’ signature on social media?

The phrase is a prominent part of Irving’s social media presence, serving as his Twitter display name.

By now, Mavericks fans have most likely become closely acquainted with all things Kyrie Irving.

For those following the eight-time All-Star on social media, it’s easy to notice the presence of the term “Hélà” in his interactions. Irving consistently uses the phrase as a signature on his tweets and Instagram posts. It also serves as his display name on Twitter.

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So, what does “Hélà” mean? According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the term is Irving’s Lakota name, which translates to Little Mountain. Irving was given the name by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in 2018.

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Irving gave a speech during a Standing Rock Sioux naming ceremony, where he discussed how grateful he was to be amongst family members. His mother, Elizabeth Irving, was a member of the tribe.

“There was a certain point in my life where I had come almost at a crossroads with my dad, my sister, my friends, my grandparents and I had no idea what direction to go into because I had lost a sense of a foundation that I know I had lost a long time ago,” Kyrie Irving said during the naming ceremony. “Knowing that my mom passed and left me such a powerful, empowering family such as Standing Rock as well as all the Sioux Nation. To be a part of it now and not just an outside supporter, but knowing that this is family for life.

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“Blood couldn’t make us any closer. Our journeys have been directed in so many different ways, yet we’re still standing here Aug. 23, 2018, embracing each other as if we haven’t lost any time.”

Irving has shown his support for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in many different ways, including with a donation of food pallets and N95 masks in 2020, according to Nikiya Carrero of kxnet.com. He also donated $110,000 to the tribe in 2018, instructing that the funds be used to help the youth.

You can hear the rest of Irving’s speech during the Standing Rock Sioux naming ceremony here:

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Irving, who was traded to the Mavericks from the Brooklyn Nets, will make his debut for the Dallas organization Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers on the road.

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