BY: BRIAN WOLF
I have been a fan since Kyrie played his one year at Duke University. As a Blue Devil fan, I was excited to watch Irving’s game. He was Coach K’s first point guard who could do it all. Sure there was Woj, and Reddick, and Smith, but Kyrie did everything on the offensive side of the ball. He could not only create for himself but also his teammates. Unfortunately, a toe injury sidelined Kyrie for the majority of his one season. The product from New Jersey went first overall in the 2011 draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the rest is history.
Kyrie joined forces with LeBron in the King’s return to Cleveland, and they made a run of four consecutive NBA Finals appearances. Kyrie was instrumental in Cleveland’s only title, sinking a three that ultimately ended the series and helped LeBron seal his legacy in the state of Ohio. Kyrie was on top of the world. The game-changing point guard could do no wrong.
But then he opened his mouth.
In 2017, Kyrie joined them teammates Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye on their podcast, Road Trippin’ with RJ & Channing, and shared his belief that the world is flat. This caught the attention of many people, even outside of the NBA circle, and people began a heated debate on this conspiracy theory. Kyrie went on to apologize in 2018.
During this year’s NBA Finals, Kyrie joined his new teammate in Brooklyn Kevin Durant’s podcast, where he went on to say he was excited to play with Durant on the Brooklyn Nets because for the first time in his career, he was partnered with a player who can make big shots too.
“I felt like I was the best option for every team I played for down the stretch,” he said.
LeBron went on RJ and Channing’s podcast and admitted those comments hurt him. LeBron has hit clutch shots in his career. Kyrie hits one clutch shot and thinks nobody else has? Apparently, Kyrie didn’t like being second fiddle because he got his way and was dealt to Boston to become the guy. That experiment did not work out so well. After two mediocre seasons in Boston, Kyrie and Durant both landed in Brooklyn. KD was dealing with his torn Achilles, and Kyrie suffered an injury ending his season.
Kyrie did not speak on this year’s media day and was fined $25,000 for his absence.
On one side, I can see Kyrie’s frustration. The media can be harsh on Kyrie, critiquing his game, his comments, his beliefs. But for an athlete with the lights and cameras on him 24/7, he is under the microscope and has agreed to this lifestyle. Many around the league took exception to Kyrie calling the media “pawns.”
On Friday morning, TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley joined the Keyshawn, JWill, and Zubin show on ESPN and shared his comments.
I have come to like Charles over the years. He does an excellent job with TNT and says what a lot of others are afraid to say. Is he always right? No. But you will always get his honest opinion. I respect that about him. He could teach some of these youngsters in the association a thing or two.
But back to Kyrie. Let’s say he doesn’t win another ring and is stuck with just one. What will Kyrie’s legacy be? Will he be known as a flashy point guard who hit a clutch shot in game 7 of an NBA Finals, or will he be known more for his antics and comments off the floor?
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