When you’re growing up and learning to love the game of basketball, there is always that one player you try to emulate. One’s imagination runs wild in the driveway—you picture yourself as ‘your guy,’ make a couple of moves on the unfortunate imaginary defender, call out the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” as the clock winds down and sink the would-be game-winning shot. The crowd bursts into cheerful joy and you likely make a lap around the driveway with your hands raised to the sky in celebration. For me, ‘that guy’ was Kyrie Irving. Growing up in New Jersey as a Duke fan and a Nets fan, it was hard not to fall in love.
The consensus #1 Point Guard coming out of St. Patrick High School, now known as The Patrick School, Irving went on to play only 11 games at Duke due to a toe injury, but he dazzled in his short stint. I was hooked for life when Irving led the top-ranked Blue Devils to a victory over Michigan State on December 1, 2010. He was just a freshman, but showed off his incredible handle and finishing ability—traits that he has mastered today—en route to a 31-point performance. I knew he had the it factor.
Irving went on to be drafted with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that was rebuilding after a rough season in its initial post-LeBron era. Cleveland figured to have its new franchise cornerstone in Irving, but they did not have enough pieces to make any considerable noise in the league. It was not until LeBron’s return to northeast Ohio that Irving was able to shine in the spotlight.
In his first real shot at an NBA title, Irving’s chance was cut short by injury—something that has become a common theme throughout his career. In overtime of Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals, Irving fractured his left knee cap after falling awkwardly on his way into the lane; his season was over. Without Irving and Kevin Love, both out with injuries, LeBron carried the Cavaliers to a sixth game, but fell short to the Warriors.
Fast forward a little more than a year, and we find ourselves in nearly the exact same situation. Cavs vs. Warriors. NBA Finals. Oakland, California. This time, it’s Game 7—the two greatest words in sports. The lasting memory of this Finals is the “Blocked by James!” call by Mike Breen and LeBron being overwhelmed with tears of joy, as he fulfilled his promise and mission of bringing a title to Cleveland. Despite the block, it was Kyrie Irving’s three-pointer on the right wing over the outstretched arm of Steph Curry that put Cleveland up for good with 53 seconds to play. It was quite possibly one of the greatest and most clutch shots in league history (right behind Ray Allen’s game saving shot in 2013); quite possibly a shot that kids of this generation will long mimic in their driveways.
The same Cleveland team tried to run it back in 2016-17, but the Warriors proved to be on another plane with the addition of Kevin Durant, ousting Cleveland in five games. Surprisingly, that offseason Kyrie Irving requested a trade from Cleveland. Management in Cleveland seemed to have no choice after this request was made public and dealt him to the Boston Celtics. Irving had always been known to be of the same ilk as Kobe Bryant, a killer mentality on the court and spending hours in the gym when no one was watching. At that stage in his career, Irving had tired of being the number two option behind LeBron James. He wanted his shot again at leading his own team, being the guy.
Regrettably, Irving’s time in Boston was once again plagued by injury and compounded by scrutiny and dysfunction after the team performed better with him off the floor. In the 2018-19 Eastern Conference Semifinals Boston fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, with Irving shooting 30% from the field in the four losses.
After being at the top of the NBA world, Irving fell quickly. Reports surrounding the team cited his lack of leadership and disconnect that ultimately became Irving’s and the Celtics’ demise. When Boston’s season ended that year, Brad Stevens said he had done a “bad job”, but frankly, what else is he supposed to say? Was he really going to throw his superstar under the bus?
It was no surprise to me when Irving declined his $21 million player option and become an unrestricted free agent. For the first time in his career, Irving truly controlled his destiny. As free agency approached, the Brooklyn Nets became a frontrunner to land the All-Star Point Guard. A West Orange, NJ native, Kyrie grew up a Nets fan and said he always wanted to play “at home.” Sure enough, he chose to sign his new contract at Roosevelt Middle School in West Orange, NJ, surrounded by friends and family. In interviews that followed, ‘home’ and ‘happy’ were the buzz words the kept recurring.
Unfortunately, this season has been no different in how Irving has been criticized. During Brooklyn’s preseason trip around China, Irving was said to have uncontrollable and unpredictable mood swings that affected team chemistry. To make matters worse, the injury plague haunted him once again as he was sidelined with a shoulder impingement on his shooting arm (I’m no doctor, so watch this video for a detailed look into what this injury is).
On Sunday night, after missing more than two months, Irving returned to the floor. He played just 20 minutes in a Nets blowout over the Hawks, but was 10-11 from the floor and finished with 21 points. It may take some time for Irving to get his legs back, but he showed flashes of his brilliance and that happiness on the court that he has longed for. For me, my guy was back.
Now, accompanied by Kevin Durant, there are championship aspirations and expectations in Brooklyn. There’s no telling how much longer Irving will be around—in a recent exclusive interview with SLAM, he said he can’t see himself playing beyond five more years. Whether you’re a fan of Kyrie Irving or not, his ability cannot be denied. So, in the short time that we might have left, let’s hope for a healthy ride and see what he can do for the NBA and for Brooklyn fans in this final chapter. And, for the young fans taking their imagination to the driveway.
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