What if I told you that there was an NBA player so good at dribbling, nobody thought he was human. From insane ankle breaking crossovers, to pulling off some of the most mind blowing moves ever seen on a basketball court. Kyrie Irving is the greatest ball handler in the history of the NBA.
You heard that right. This legend not only created some of the most watched basketball highlights on YouTube, but his unique dribbling also played a key role in one of the craziest comebacks in NBA history. Leading his team to the 2016 Championship.
So, how did Kyrie develop his almost supernatural ability? And why does he refuse to dribble like everyone else? To understand, we have to go back to Drderick Irving and his wife Elizabeth, who are currently living in Melbourne, Australia, have just welcomed their second child, Kyrie, into the world.
Drderick, who after having his number 11 jersey retired after a dominant four year stint at Boston University, is playing professional basketball in Australia, a career which came to an end when his son Kyrie was two. The Irving family would then return back home to New Jersey, where their son would continue to develop his love for basketball. A passion, which was only made deeper thanks to his godfather, Rod Strickland, who was playing in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, in 1996, when Kyrie was just four years old, his father would return home from his Wall Street job with some tragic news. His wife Elizabeth had passed away, and just a year later, Drderick would also lose his mother. The young Irving was destroyed.
But his father would step up and begin molding his son through the game of basketball and turning him into the man that he envisioned him becoming. As Irving grew into a fourth grader, he only became more obsessed with the game. Kyrie was either outside with his father hooping or inside studying basketball, trying to pick up secrets from the players he idolized.
A mindset combined with the fact that he was actually left handed. . .
But was forced to become right handed, would turn the young hooper into one of the best young athletes in the nation, and Irving would make a huge promise to himself. Writing on the wall of his wardrobe, I will make it to the NBA. Drderick would continue to sacrifice for his children, dedicating his weekends to taking his son to New York so that Kyrie could play against some of the best competition in the United States.
Yet the Big Apple squads were relentless. Every single group would apply intense full-court pressure, and Irving had two choices. Either become an even greater ball handler or quit.
While the young hooper would eventually adapt to the high level of defense he faced in elementary school, his basketball career actually came to an end after his freshman year in high school, all thanks to an intense argument with his father about moving schools. However, Irving's love for the game would eventually return when he decided to transfer to Saint Patrick's in his junior year. A huge sacrifice which required the rising point guard to take a 2 and a half hour bus ride each way.
So, what made him want to make the sacrifice? Well, Saint Patrick's, given that they were one of the top programs in America, would begin to gain their dominant point guard national recognition, and Irving began to receive the Division 1 scholarships he had always dreamed of. However, with this success came people who tried to stop him.
Because during his senior season, Kyrie’s high school after winning the state title in his junior year would be banned from participating in the postseason tournament. But, what did they do wrong? Well, before I tell you, I'm excited to go see Luka Doncic and his new Los Angeles Lakers try to compete for an NBA Championship.
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Playing Division 1 basketball at Duke University under legendary Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Yet a few games into his freshman collegiate season, Kyrie was set to face the number one ranked point guard in the nation, Michigan State's Kalin Lucas. While many assumed Lucas would be the one winning this matchup, Irving had different plans.
However, a few games later, disaster would strike the rising draft prospect, who many think will be a top pick in the 2011 draft, would suffer a toe injury, ruling Kyrie out for potentially the rest of their 2010 - 2011 season. While the future NBA player would eventually return as the national championship tournament known as “March Madness” began, Duke’s lackluster run, being sent home after just three rounds had many questioning if Irving was really an NBA level player? Critics would dub the draft prospect as overrated, pointing out that his 6’2” frame and limited athletic skills would mean that Irving would struggle to finish at the rim in the NBA, and that his insane ball handling skills would get Kyrie into trouble at the next level.
But the now ex-Duke star would just remain focused on learning from his heroes. and trying to use that hate as fuel to his fire. However, given that Cleveland's previous superstar, LeBron James had just a bad had just abandoned the franchise to pursue championships with the Miami Heat, lofty expectations were placed on Irving's shoulders.
Big shoes which, after slowly adjusting to the pace, physicality and playing against grown men, Kyrie would begin to fill. As on the 27th of January in a regular season matchup against his hometown team, the New Jersey Nets, Irving would begin to showcase what he was truly capable of. His incredible ball handling skills, which he developed in New York and New Jersey, were on full display.
It didn't matter what the defense tried to do, because something was vastly different about the way the rookie point guard dribbled compared to normal NBA players. A variation that his godfather explains perfectly. Irving would in this night having scored his first 30 plus point game at the highest level of basketball.
And the Cavs number one selection would go on to achieve three more incredible feats in his rookie campaign. Firstly, in their next game against the Boston Celtics, it was Kyrie who would incredibly spin through two defenders to hit the insanely difficult game winning left handed layup. Secondly, against the Denver Nuggets, the New Jersey native would again impressively propel his Cavaliers into the win column.
And finally, thanks to his 18. 5 point, 5. 4 assist and near 40% shooting from three averages, the number one pick was crowned the rookie of the year.
An incredible first year in the league, which would have the rising talent chosen to be a part of the team USA Select Team, a squad made up of rising talent (comment whats good if you have subtitles on) whose main goal was to help the Olympic team prepare to win gold at the 2012 London Games. But while Kyrie was excited to showcase his on court skills, there was something else which he was way more interested in. While Kobe Bryant would get the best of Kyrie Irving in their following 2012 - 2013 matchup, Kyrie had begun to plant the seeds of what he hoped would become a lifelong friendship.
However, whilst the Cavaliers point guard had improved individually by increasing his scoring average to 22. 5 points, being named as an All Star, hitting another game winner vs Toronto and taking poor Brandon Knight’s soul in the rookie vs sophomore event Trouble was on the horizon. As the Cavaliers were still failing as a unit.
Their horrendous 24 win and 58 loss record, combined with Irving’s injury woes and a alleged beef with their 2013 draft pick Dion Waiters, caused members of the media to turn against him. Kyrie would be labeled as a diva, as well as someone who wasn't capable of leading Ohio's NBA franchise to success. Comments which would greatly impact how Irving viewed himself.
However, Cleveland's front office was about to make some changes. Firstly, Mike Brown, who had coached the team already between 2005 and 2010, was rehired and alongside Brown came Phil Handy, a specialist skill development coach who had worked with Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers over the past two seasons, a hiring which changed Irving's life forever. Because Coach Handy noticed something was missing in his new point guard game.
Phil recognized that while Kyrie did work incredibly hard, he wasn't focused on mastering his skill and instead was much more interested in just playing 1 on 1 or 5 on 5. But when Handy tried to bring this up to his young star, he was ignored. Therefore, Coach Handy would call someone he knew that could force a change in Irving.
Kobe Bryant, a five time champion and one of the greatest players to ever grace a basketball court, had been through literally everything in his 17 year NBA career. From coming into the league as a high schooler, then being thrusted into a lead role on a 3x Championship winning team, to then fighting with a running mate, Shaquille O'Neal, for the alpha dog spot, whilst at the same time battling off the court issues. Bryant would then see O'Neal traded away, finally earning him the main job on his Los Angeles Lakers squad, but then ultimately failing for three straight years.
Before finally beginning to mature, learning from all his mistakes and winning two more NBA titles. Irving, under the guidance of his new mentor, would have his best season so far in his young career. Kyrie would win the All Star game MVP, have three, 40+ point games, and begin to push his Cavaliers into more wins with his insane numbers.
But it wasn't just the stats where the former number one pick showed growth. However, doubt still remained. Because Cleveland had only won 33 games, leading many to question if Kyrie could actually lead a team?
Journalists and critics would highlight that Irving's play style of using his dribble to break down defences, was not the right way to play and his inability to stay healthy would fail their Cavaliers when it mattered most. Yet Cleveland's front office didn't share these beliefs at all. In fact, they would sign their rising star to a five year contract extension, proving just how much they truly believed in Kyrie to lead them to their first ever championship.
Not only did LeBron return to the franchise who drafted him all the way back in 2003, but the Cavs would use their third number one pick in four years What? That’s, that’s gotta be cheating. To trade for Timberwolves Power Forward Kevin Love.
A brand new big three had been formed. However, as the season was rounding out in a game against the San Antonio Spurs, Irving would showcase that while LeBron was clearly the team's focal point, he was more than capable of taking over. Kyrie would spend the majority of the game dazzling the Spurs defence.
Attacking any opening he could find for beautiful pull up jumpers or insane layups at the rim. But it's what the now 22 year old did towards the end of the game, which truly shocked everyone. As, with the Cavs down 6 points, their point guard would truly begin to take over.
Yet it was during the game's extra period where Kyrie would do something even crazier. The now 3x All Star, had scored a brand new career high of 57 points and literally willed his team with his incredible ball handling skills to pull a victory out of thin air. Yet their success wasn't isolated to just this night.
As despite being asked one of the weirdest questions in NBA history, The Cavs it ended their 2014 - 15 season with 53 wins and the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. However, Cleveland's incredible year began to unravel after Game 3 vs the Chicago Bulls in the second round, Not only had Kyrie suffered a serious foot injury, but Ohio's NBA franchise was in a 2 - 1 hole. To make matters worse, despite LeBron saving the Cavs in Game 4 and tying the series, his point guards injury was only getting worse.
Therefore, before Game 5, Irving would seek guidance from Kobe. In spite of playing with one foot writhing in pain, Irving had incredibly put in a much needed 25 points versus the impressive Bulls defense. But things would continue to trend downward for Kyrie.
Because Irving, in spite of the Cavs moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals, was forced to sit out of Games 2 and 3, vs the Atlanta Hawks. A decision which allowed Cleveland's point guard to be healthy and ready for the moment he had been dreaming of ever since he wrote I am going to make it to the NBA in his closet. The NBA Finals.
However, in yet another overtime battle, this time against a Western Conference number one seed, the Golden State Warriors, Irving's knee would collide with Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Kyrie immediately collapsed and was promptly taken to the locker room. Not only had Cleveland lost their point guard, but their power forward, Kevin Love, had also been completely ruled out of the playoffs.
Kyrie was forced to sit helpless as he watched the Warriors dismantle his Cavaliers and take the 2015 NBA Championship on their home floor. A moment which destroyed him. Therefore, Irving would consult his hero for further guidance.
Yet it was Kobe told him after the pair faced off for the final time during the regular season, which would truly motivate Kyrie. Kobe having seen Golden State start this season with 24 straight wins, their point guard Steph Curry win the MVP award in a unanimous vote, and the Warriors rounding out their season having broken the unbreakable Chicago Bulls 72 - 10 season by winning 73, knew that the mountain his prodigy was going to have to climb would almost be impossible. To make matters worse, when the Cavaliers found themselves back in the finals for a rematch against the Warriors, it would be Golden State who went out and grabbed a lead that nobody in the history of the league had ever come back from.
Kobe was right. Or was he? Kyrie, alongside his megastar teammate LeBron James.
Seriously, what's above a superstar? Mega Star? Supernova?
Comment below. Was motivated to rewrite the NBA history books. Irving would masterfully utilize his insane ball handling skills to find himself in positions to score bucket after bucket.
Yet it was LeBron’s leadership which ultimately allowed the pair to dominate. Not only did James score an insane 41 points, but so did Kyrie. The pair's combined 82 points, a performance that has never been seen on a stage that large before, would see the Cavaliers live another day.
But this was just the start of one of the most epic stories in sporting history. As, in Game 6, thanks to another 41 point night from James, and 23 additional points from his running mate, the series would be coming to an end on June 19th, 2016. Kyrie knew that this was his moment.
Irving would continue to relentlessly attack Curry. However, as Game 7 was coming to a close, neither team could get ahead. Whether it was just missed shots or LeBron James chasing the Warriors down, the score would not budge from it’s 89 all position.
That was until, once again, Irving demanded the ball. However, after continuing his insane season by being crowned as an Olympic Gold Medalist, Kyrie was starting to feel off. Therefore, Irving would just continue to focus on the sport which had always been there for him, allowing the now NBA Champion to have his greatest individual season to date.
The now 5x All Star would average 25. 2 points, 5. 8 assists, and in similar fashion to his mentor, began to show that he was actually capable of being a true number one option on a title winning team.
A point that the Cavs guard showcased once again throughout their title defense. Irving and his Cleveland team would only lose a single playoff game on their journey back to the NBA Finals. Victories thanks to insane nights from their point guard, such as 37 points against the Indiana Pacers and 42 points versus the Boston Celtics.
But, before the 2016/17 season began, the 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant, after being on the receiving end of a 3 - 1 comeback by the Golden State Warriors in last year's playoffs, decided to join forces with the team who had just sent him packing. The Warriors, thanks to their four All Star starting line up, would decimate the Cavaliers. 38 and 40 point nights from Kyrie were absolutely meaningless, and it would be Golden State taking their revenge for their 2016 defeat.
Kyrie Irving's wish to be the number one option and a leader on a team had been granted. But, was he actually ready for the challenge? Because the now ex-Cavalier’s ability to lead was questioned almost immediately.
Therefore, understanding that he had a lot to learn, Irving would head to Kobe for advice. Guidance which helped Kyrie Celtics to dominate the 2017/18 regular season. Because Boston's roster had a seemingly perfect mix of young, rising talent, and players in their prime.
A squad which would allow the historic NBA franchise to go on a 16 game winning streak, mainly thanks to Irving's insane ball handling skills, which saw the now Boston point guard have 18 nights with at least 30 points. However, as the regular season was coming to a close, Kyrie was forced to have a second surgery on the same knee, which ruled him out of the 2015 finals. Yet without Irving or their other All-Star signee, Gordon Hayward, who was also out due to injury, the young, scrappy Boston side would literally come just a single game away from making the NBA finals.
Not only were Celtic fans excited, but both internally and externally, everyone felt that the return of their superstar point guard, and All-Star forward would see Boston destroying the NBA in the 2018/19 season. During his recovery, Kyrie would also spend time trying to understand more about his mother's heritage. On top of this, Irving felt so confident about his future in Massachusetts that he shared this right before the season began.
However, two weeks after this statement, more devastating news would strike the now 26 year old. Boston would begin to struggle. The record, which many assumed that they were going to achieve, was seemingly out of reach, and internal issues began to spill out.
So once again, Kyrie would reach out to those closest to him for advice. Yet, Boston after a dominant first round series vs Indiana, would ultimately be gentleman swept out of the playoffs in just the second round and Kyrie would receive all the blame from the media. To make matters even worse, during free agency, Irving made a decision which only further alienated him from those within the NBA.
Yet, during his initial press conference with his hometown team, the now Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie would share his side of the situation in Boston. As well as taking ownership for their failures. But Irving, now that he was back to where everything began, was ready to move forward.
And boy, did he move forward/ As in just his first game with his brand new club, Irving would score an insane 50 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Seriously why is it that Jeff Teague seems to be in every NBA moment? Also, to give you some random, useless information, Kyrie's father actually played with Jeff Teague’s father in college.
Do what you want with that information. I just wanted to include it. And while Kyrie would miss the game winning attempt, his incredible play combined with the fact that Brooklyn had also added Kevin Durant, who despite suffering an Achilles tear in the 2019 Finals and was set to miss the season, proved that the Nets would be contending for titles for years to come.
However, on the 26th of January, 2020 Kyrie's world would flip upside down. Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Kevin Durant would come together to form one of the most explosive big threes in history and as the 2020 - 2021 season went on, Kyrie was only continuing to find even stronger form on the court. Insane performances which would allow Brooklyn to end their year with the second seed in the Eastern Conference and a first round matchup against Kyrie's former team.
An initial battle, which Irving dominated by scoring a 39 points in Game 4, and averaging 24. 8 points in their easy 4 - 1 victory. All those who believed that this Big Three would fail were seemingly being proved wrong/ Or, were they?
As, in Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks, Irving would attack the hoop and come down straight onto Bucks superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s foot into one of the most violent looking ankle sprains I've ever seen. Combined Kyrie's devastating injury with Harden's with Harden’s hamstring issues and Kevin Durant's big toe, the Nets would be bounced from the 2021 playoffs, But this was just the start of Irving’s issues. As during the following season, Kyrie made his own choice to not receive a shot, which meant the Nets superstar was banned from playing home games due to New York state regulations.
A decision which sparked outrage in the media. Brooklyn without their superstar trio would ultimately once again come far short of their championship hopes. With the Boston Celtics demolishing Kyrie and his Nets in just the first round of the 2022 playoffs.
However, in the off season, Irving's life would take yet another huge turn. A post which would see the Brooklyn guard be suspended by the NBA for five games, and Nike, who Kyrie held a signature shoe line with, would sever ties completely. Irving would then donate $500,000 to the Anti-Defamation League as a part of his apology.
However, the ADL would refuse Kyrie's donation. In spite of all the off court drama that surrounded Irving, his dominant play on the court only continued. The now 30 year old would average 27.
2 points, shoot 40% from three, 50% from the field, and 87% from the line, with an additional 5. 3 assists per game. But much like his teammate, Kyrie would also request a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
Irving, would eventually be shifted to the Dallas Mavericks and upon arrival, would sign a three year extension with the squad. However, once again, this move was met with extreme doubt. But Kyrie, would just meet these thoughts with his own.
While Dallas would struggle as the 2022 - 2023 season came to a close, mainly due to injury woes, things were looking very bright in Texas. Irving's incredible on court dominance, all thanks to his insane ball handling skills, combined with the rise of their other point guard, Luka Doncic, meant the Mavericks felt confident moving into the following season. However, it would be someone Irving met off the court that truly began to change everything for him.
The 2023- 2024 season would see the Mavs, who, despite receiving mixed predictions of this season, begin to convince those around the league that Dallas would be a championship frontrunner for years to come. The draft day trade for super athletic big man, Derrick Lively II, and trades for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford had transformed their squad. Combine this with Irving's presence, and his insane ball handling Those who once dragged his name in the media actually began to change their mind.
While Dallas had ended the 2024 season with just the fifth seed, the Mavs were peaking at the right time. Kyrie's 30 point night to close out the Clippers in the first round, and his 36 point game to round out the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Western Conference Finals, would see Irving return to the stage he had spent 3 straight years on as a Cavalier, the NBA Finals. Before their championship series began against his former Celtic squad, Irving would reflect on his time in Boston.
As well as highlighting the mistakes he made reacting to Boston's crowd. And while it was Dallas, in spite of a 35 point night in Game 3 from Irving, who would be defeated in the 2024 Finals, Kyrie, had clearly found a home. A mission which is present throughout everything Kyrie does, whether it's his signature shoes with Anta, the messaging and breadcrumbs he leaves in incredible interviews like this one, or being a leader for those who look up to him.
Even in unbelievable situations such as the Luka Doncic trade, the former rookie of the year would remain focused on what truly matters to him. While we don't know what's in store for the rest of Kyrie Irving's incredible NBA career, it's clear that off the court, the New Jersey Native will forever be someone that everyone can look up to. Also, did you know that another player who wears number 11 was someone who dominated the NBA by simply refuse choosing to dribble?
If you're thinking, how can you even play in the league without dribbling? This documentary on Klay Thompson’s NBA career is perfect for you. So, click the video on your screen right now!
