Although ranking the top 30 NBA players in today’s game is an incredibly difficult task, The Last Word on Pro Basketball staff has taken it on. Debuting at number 15 in the countdown is Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving.
Top 30 NBA Players
Number 15 – Kyrie Irving
A former first overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving has been one of the NBA’s most electrifying players ever since he was drafted back in 2011. He’s one of the elite point guards in the game and known for his spectacular handles and finishing ability.
After failing to the Cavaliers to the playoffs in his first three seasons, Irving played a crucial role in helping Cleveland win their first-ever NBA championship alongside Lebron James. The dynamic duo led the team to three straight finals appearances while forming one of the most heated rivalries against the Golden State Warriors. Irving played a crucial role in 2016 finals, helping his club cap off a miraculously 3-1 comeback against the greatest regular-season team ever.
Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Irving would request a trade in the summer of 2017 and was eventually shipped to the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster deal. His first season with the team was going well until knee surgery ended his campaign. Expectations were high for Boston the following year, but locker room issues led to a disappointing season for the team. Afterward, Irving became an unrestricted free agent and decided to sign with the Brooklyn Nets. Only 28, his best days might still be ahead of him, especially now that he’s on his preferred team with good friend Kevin Durant by his side.
Strengths
Like previously mentioned, Irving possesses incredible ball-handling skills, as he arguably has one of the best handles in NBA history. This allows him to create separation and get clean shots at the basket. Paired with elite shooting (career 39 percent three-point shooter) and you have one of the premier scorers in the league; Irving averages over 22 points in his career. He’s also very efficient, owning a 60 percent true shooting percentage the past three seasons, which is 4 percent above the league average.
Furthermore, Irving is elite at finishing, which makes it extremely difficult for defenders to block his shots. He can score using both hands, often contorting his body mid-air and knocking shots in at impossible angles. The point guard also has a deadly floater, making him a threat to score at different areas of the court. Recognized as one of the most clutch players in the league today, Irving is known for coming up in big moments and amping up his play during the postseason.
Weaknesses
On the court, Irving’s main weakness lies in his sub-par defensive game. He doesn’t possess great defensive instincts which makes it difficult for him to guard isolated opponents. Irving also doesn’t have the highest defensive motor, so he could improve if he decides to put in the effort.
However, the point guard’s biggest issues lie off-court. He averages less than 60 games played per season and only suited up for 20 matches this season. Moreover, Irving’s locker room issues are well-documented, as he allegedly once went days without talking to his Cavalier teammates during the 2017 playoffs. He also received a lot of criticism during his last season with the Celtics and often butted heads with coach Brad Stevens and general manager Danny Ainge. There have already been rumblings about potential unrest in Brooklyn, with some speculating that Irving had a hand in the firing of Kenny Atkinson. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how he and Kevin Durant gel next season, as the latter has a history of causing unrest within his teams as well.
Career Accolades
At 28, Irving is already one of the more accomplished players in the entire league. The point guard is a six-time All-Star who has been a member of the All-NBA team twice. He was also the recipient of the 2014 All-Star game MVP, showing a flair for the dramatic. More importantly, Irving is a champion who possesses one of the most iconic moments in recent NBA history, drilling the series-clinching shot with less than a minute to go in Game 7 of the 2016 finals.
Last Word on Pro Basketball Top 30 NBA Players Ballots
We believe in full transparency in the top 30 NBA player rankings so we are going to disclose the ballots of our player rankings and where each contributor had each player ranked.
Tyler Marling – Site Manager – 18
Chase Gage – Managing Editor – 12
David Knight – Marketing Manager – 15
Zach Kircher – Associate Editor – 11
Matthew Waldman – Associate Editor – 15
David Ward – Author – 20
Avinash Chauhan – Contributor – 16
Adam Zigner – Contributor – 24
Albert Dadson – Contributor – 8
Dylan Guest – Contributor – 13
Raheem Bashir – Contributor – 12
Nathan Levine – Contributor – 13
Bill Huan – Contributor – 13
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