Since hitting arguably the biggest shot in NBA history to win Game 7 of the 2016 Finals vs. the 73-win Golden State Warriors, Kyrie Irving has had one of the most tumultuous stretches of a career for any player.
In the seven seasons that followed, Irving only won one playoff series outside his last year with LeBron James in Cleveland, where they lost in the NBA Finals to Kevin Durant’s Warriors. Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers that summer in an attempt to be the number one guy on his own team.
After spending two injury and drama-filled seasons in Boston, Irving unceremoniously abandoned the Celtics to join Durant in Brooklyn. This seemed to be an admission that leading your own team is much harder than it appeared, as Irving formed a superstar duo in his new home.
However, injuries and off-court drama once again robbed Irving of playing any meaningful basketball in his three years there, ultimately leading to his trade request which landed him with Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks. After an absolute failure of a season ended with Dallas tanking their final games to secure a draft pick, questions about Irving’s value were the dominant topic as he looked to secure a contract extension.
Injuries and questionable off-the-court decisions led most NBA fans and analysts to believe Irving wasn’t worth anything near a max extension, but Dallas ultimately gave in and signed him to a three-year deal. However, Irving is a special player and has proved everyone wrong so far.
