Kyrie: the new King of Cavaliers
In the summer of 2010 the Cleveland Cavaliers lost the best player in the league, when LeBron James opted to take his ‘talents to South Beach’ and join the Miami Heat. Just a year later the Cavaliers proceeded to be the second worst team in the league, and were rewarded with the number one draft pick. They chose Kyrie Irving.
Kyrie looks to have the potential to become a superstar in this league, at the age of just 20 he has numerous talents which combine to make him almost unguardable.
Irving has some of the best handles in the league, his ball handling skills give him the ability to quickly drive hard into the lane or use an array of crossovers to create his own shot. His competence on the ball allows him to create passing lanes and cut the ball through angles that are not evident, or wouldn’t arise to less adept ball handlers in the league. He is extremely creative with the ball in his hands and looks in complete control in even the most heated of situations, he’s a joy to watch.
Irving’s long range shooting propels him amongst the best three-point shooting guards in the league. He is shooting an impressive .425% from three-point range this season, making him the 4th most accurate point guard from behind the arc. His long-range prowess demands attention from the opposition who must guard him tightly on the perimeter, allowing Kyrie to use his supreme handles to blow past defenders and create a shot for himself or his teammates. Irving loves the wing areas and the top of the arc, where he shoots a much higher percentage than most others in the league. He shoots an incredible 66% (although this is a small sample size) from the right corner and 48.6% from the left wing area.
Kyrie’s court vision and confidence on the ball allows him to get to the rim, a lot. Irving is shooting 53% when attacking from the right of the basket and 52% from the left, drawing comparisons to the likes of Russell Westbrook, who shot the same percentages at the rim in his sophomore season. He has an impressive ability to take the contact from much larger players and still finish the shot. Kyrie punishes teams for fouling him, shooting 86% from the free throw line throughout his short NBA career.
One of Irving’s most valuable assets is his ability to score in late game situations. In games where there is 3 minutes or less left in the 4th quarter with the margin at 5 points or less, Kyrie Irving ranks as the most successful scorer. He shoots 54.2% in these late game situations, on 26-48 shooting. This puts him above the likes of Ray Allen, LeBron James, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, clearly he is one of the most ‘clutch’ players in the league, in just his second season in the NBA.
There is little doubt Irving will become a superstar in this league, if he isn’t seen as one already. His game will develop and progress to new heights as he spends more seasons in the league. His future in the NBA is huge.
