NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The earth may not be flat but the basketball court damn sure is. The NBA world needs to apologize to Kyrie Irving as soon as possible and do so with conviction. Why? Because when the dust settles, what exactly did Irving do to any of us?
He wanted to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers. Like any of us for leaving a job, he had his reasons. Their run was over. Maybe there was an issue with Irving and LeBron James or maybe it wasn’t. But we do know that the Cavs were Irving’s team before LeBron found his way home and snatched the Cavs from him.
He made his way to Boston where it seemed like a good fit but truth be told, Kyrie always looked uncomfortable there. He said he wanted to stay and then still found a way out. And that’s where a lot of his criticism began. Then came his infamous stint with the Brooklyn Nets.
That was just a total mess. But Kyrie took the biggest hit because he stood up for something that many of us were standing up for. He refused to take the Covid vaccine. Not a big deal as many athletes did the same but in the NYC market, it became a bigger story. And he still didn’t back down.
But Kyrie Irving left his team holding the bag? Not necessarily. Would you continue to play for an owner who goes on National TV and throws you under the bus? Would you continue to play for a city where the fans turned their backs on you? How many Nets and NBA fans sitting in the comforts of their homes didn’t get the shot but were quick to slander his name?
Is Kyrie Irving Back On Top
The move to the Dallas Mavericks was laughed at by many. There is no way a backcourt composed of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic could thrive. They did not have enough around them was all that was being said following the in-season trade. Well, in their first season together, things did not go as planned. It was a feeling out process they had to fight through. But a year later, here they are leading their Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Those same naysayers are now throwing praises his way. Just a few months ago they were still throwing mud in his face. See how fast things can change? But Kyrie is still Kyrie. He did not change a single thing about him. He just went and played ball the same way he did in Cleveland, Boston, and Brooklyn.
Was he the real problem or was it everything that was going on around him? Yes, Kyrie may say some things that will turn heads but since when was it a crime to be different?
This season, Irving averaged 25.6 points to go along with 5.2 assists while shooting .497 percent from the floor. His career number stands at 23.6 points and 5.7 assists while shooting .474 percent. Where is the difference? He’s the same player he’s always been. The only thing that has changed is people’s understanding of him. Or should I say that the media decided to focus their attention elsewhere this season and let Kyrie Irving the man and basketball player be.
Irving didn’t commit a crime. He stood up for himself and people didn’t like that. It was almost the case of “shut up and dribble.” They thought sending him to Dallas would be a punishment. What they didn’t expect was for him, Luka, and Jason Kidd to gel and do something amazing in the process.
The Western Conference was never up for grabs. This paring was to be similar to what he had with the Nets. Some good talent, but not enough for him to get back to the Finals. He was supposed to run back to LeBron with his tail between his legs. He was supposed to apologize to the media and analysts for his off-court behavior. He was supposed to become humble and fall in line. But what he wasn’t supposed to do was win.
