Invoice Streicher-USA TODAY Sports activities
Most likely probably the most well-traveled No. 2 in NBA historical past, Kyrie Irving has had three totally different stints at being a top-level Robin, first alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2018, then with Durant on the Brooklyn Nets for a bit over two seasons and now behind Luka Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks. (Irving did give being a Batman a strive, initially leaving Cleveland to get out from beneath James’ shadow to be the man in Boston, however that experiment lasted simply two years with Irving forcing his manner out of there, too.)
Irving has tasted a great quantity of success as an elite No. 2, successful a championship in 2015-16 alongside James with the Cavaliers, one which noticed the previous Duke Blue Satan hit the series-winning shot in what was a historic Finals in opposition to the Warriors. He then received to the Finals once more final yr, that point with Doncic and the Mavs earlier than falling in 5 video games to the Celtics.
However we are able to’t ignore how a lot of a catastrophe Irving’s Nets stint was, as that scenario blew up in fewer than 4 years with accidents vastly hampering the workforce’s outcomes, as Brooklyn by no means received previous the second spherical of the playoffs throughout Irving’s time there. An unsightly contract dispute in 2023 then in the end led to the enigmatic level guard’s departure from Brooklyn. What’s extra, with Harden additionally on that Nets workforce, Irving may need really been the workforce’s third fiddle at occasions.
With a Large 3 as potent as Durant, Irving and Harden, the Nets ought to have received a championship. However Irving’s unhappiness in Brooklyn ended any likelihood of that taking place, forcing the Nets into an unexpectedly fast rebuild. (We will’t absolutely blame Irving for the Nets blowing up, because the workforce did have brutal damage luck. Plus, perhaps Brooklyn ought to have simply paid Irving and tried to determine the financials later.)
Total, had Irving been much less of a malcontent in a number of conditions, he’d certainly rank greater on this checklist. Heck, had the previous No. 1 decide not compelled his manner out of Cleveland to start with, perhaps he and James may have received extra {hardware} collectively. (It also needs to be famous that if Durant hadn’t joined the Warriors in 2017, Irving, James and the Cavs may need very effectively received a minimum of yet one more championship collectively. Durant’s 2017 free-agency determination doubtlessly modified so many legacies, together with that of Irving’s.)
Or perhaps Irving may have stayed with the Nets longer and received a championship there alongside Durant and Harden. Oh effectively, a minimum of his Mavericks stint has been drama-free and fairly fruitful. For now, that’s.
Regardless, as a No. 2 choice, not many gamers in NBA historical past can match Irving’s means as a bucket-getter and playmaker, and he’ll be a first-ballot Corridor-of-Famer in the future for his contributions as an all-time Robin.
