The professional life of Kyrie Irving has been a ride with dizzying highs, stunning lows, and unexpected turns. His journey from a teenage basketballer to a champion, followed by struggles, controversy, and ultimately redemption, is a story of rollercoaster highs and lows. Let's see how Kyrie's professional life has been through the years.
Kyrie Irving wasn't simply another great kid playing basketball, greatness was in his genes. He was dribbling a ball at two years old! He soon became one of the best players in his class, impressing college scouts as well as coaches.
Kyrie's skill further progressed as he played for Duke University. Even though his college career was short-lived, because of injury, he showed enough of his phenomenal ball-handling and scoring skills to make a significant impact. His brief time at Duke was enough to make him a name, and in 2011, he was picked first overall in the NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In his first season, Kyrie let the world know what he was capable of. As a rookie, he was an excellent scorer with phenomenal ball-handling ability and the capacity to finish plays in style. He was the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year and soon established himself as one of the top point guards in the league. Everyone knew that Kyrie was a star in the making.
Kyrie's moment of definition arrived in the 2016 NBA Finals, and it's one shot that will be remembered forever in NBA history. The Cleveland Cavaliers were facing off against the Golden State Warriors, a team that had set records for the most games won during a regular season. In a thriller Game 7, Kyrie made one of the greatest shots in NBA history, a three-pointer over Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. The basket gave the Cavaliers their first NBA Championship in franchise history and ended Cleveland's 52-year drought in sports.
Kyrie was not LeBron James's sidekick, he was the guy who made the clutch shots, the guy who took the pressure and delivered in the clutch. He was a big reason the team was successful, and most people felt that he was every bit as important as LeBron James in bringing home the championship. LeBron himself stated that Kyrie was the MVP of the team during the Finals for his brilliance on offense. The win placed Kyrie in NBA history and proved to the world that he could perform under pressure in the biggest moments.
After he had reached the top, Kyrie's path was altered. He felt overshadowed by LeBron James and yearned to have greater control of where the team was headed. Kyrie demanded a trade from the Cavaliers in 2017 so that he could be his own team leader and be out of LeBron's shadow. This surprised the NBA universe, as most believed Kyrie was departing a championship roster.
In Boston, Kyrie was meant to be the leader of a young, talented team, but things did not work out. However, his experience in Boston was not as expected. The Celtics did not meet the expectations that everyone had for them. His relationship with his teammates also started to go sour, and he seemed like he could not connect with them as a leader would.
And if his on-court struggles weren't enough, Kyrie became the controversy magnet off the court. From informing us the Earth was flat to making public comments against his teammates, Kyrie's media stunts were keeping the fire burning. This created a tremendous amount of ridicule and criticism. His other controversial actions, including questioning his leadership abilities and participating in public altercations, only generated more negative publicity. Although an extremely talented player, Kyrie's off-court activities became a gigantic distraction for the team.
Kyrie's second act led him to the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, where he envisioned a dynamic duo with Kevin Durant. He became the center of attention for his lukewarm attitude toward Thanksgiving and public outbursts. He even wondered if he would remain with the Celtics or abandon basketball altogether. All these activities led folks to question Kyrie's devotion to the game.
Although Kyrie frequently complained about the team, he never took ownership of the Celtics' problems. Rather than establishing trust with his teammates, he tended to criticize them publicly, which simply exacerbated the issues. His failure to lead the team and unite them resulted in a disappointing year for Boston.
There was a moment when Kyrie recognized that he may have done some things wrong during his Boston stint. He asked LeBron James for guidance, confessing that he didn't know how to
lead a team. This became a breakthrough moment for Kyrie since he became more aware of himself and began comprehending the value of leadership and collaboration.
Kyrie signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, seeking to pair up with Kevin Durant and create a dynamic duo. Again, however, his stay in Brooklyn was marred by struggles. Injuries, inconsistent play, and off-court controversy had the team struggling. Kyrie's refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which rendered him unable to play home games, created even more issues for the Nets.
Even with another star in Kevin Durant, the Nets just never seemed to gel as a team. Kyrie's off-court issues and refusal to play home games because of the vaccine mandate created turmoil and the team couldn't get to the level they wanted. Kyrie's leadership remained suspect, and the media labeled him as a player who couldn't be trusted.
In February 2023, Kyrie was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Joining forces with superstar Luka Dončić, Kyrie was provided an opportunity for a new beginning. This was a potential turning point for his career. In Dallas, Kyrie appeared to concentrate more on his basketball abilities and leadership, seeking to put his controversies behind him.
Kyrie's time with the Mavericks has shown signs of improvement. He played well on the court, showcasing his great playmaking abilities and helping Luka in steering the team. His commitment to winning and his better-focused state have provided fans with great expectations for his future in Dallas.
Kyrie's Play in the 2023-24 season has kept the Mavericks competitive and in the playoff hunt. He's demonstrated an improved attitude and appears to be learning from past transgressions. There is still some skepticism, but his stint with Luka Dončić may prove to be the ideal combination to advance the Mavericks deep into the playoffs.
In 2022, Kyrie made another trade demand that added more drama to the Brooklyn Nets. The team also traded James Harden and got very little in return. The Nets struggled in the first round of the playoffs, especially after getting swept by the Celtics.
Kevin Durant also generated news by issuing trade demands to the Nets. The team management did not yield to his demands, and the team did not perform well in the 2023 season either. The off-court issues of Kyrie, such as his anti-Semitic tweet and suspension, made things tougher for the team.
Sacking head coach Steve Nash and deciding to retain Durant and Kyrie in the team appeared risky for Brooklyn. But it resulted in further drama as the team was unable to find success.
The Dallas trade was questioned but ended up being a positive for both Kyrie and the Mavericks. His performance in 2024 has been excellent, and he's shown a new level of maturity and leadership.
In 2024, Kyrie's shooting percentage was vastly improved, and he was a vital asset to the Mavericks. His leadership off and on the court has demonstrated that he's learning from past errors.
The Mavericks made it to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011, thanks to Kyrie and Luka’s leadership. The team’s victories against tough opponents like the Clippers and Thunder showed just how far they had come.
Though the Mavericks lost to the Celtics in the Finals, Kyrie's growth as a player and leader was evident. The season was his personal redemption, though they were unable to take the title.
Kyrie's professional life has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but his journey indicates that he can grow and change. He has learned from his mistakes and is showing more maturity and leadership on the court. His 2024 season was one of the best of his career, and it’s clear that he’s beginning to regain the respect of his teammates, the media, and his fans.
