Andre Iguodala, a legend of the Warriors, disclosed to Ryan Russell of The Ring which player he is most afraid of making the game-winning shot in a tie.
Rather than selecting either of his backcourt teammates, Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson, he went with Kyrie Irving, the player with whom they had three previous Finals confrontations.
“I’m going with Kyrie,” said Iggy. “You’re talking about fear factor at any given moment or for like that moment, Kyrie. With Steph, he’s proven to teams that you can double him. And if you can try to just get the ball out of his hands then I guess that’s the way to combat him. But with Kyrie he’s just so good like you can’t get the ball out of his hands. Allen Iverson said Kyrie was the best ball handler in NBA history and I’ve been told that I was crazy for saying that. You talk about fear factor, when you ask just about anyone in the league, that’s a scary guy.”
Though his opinions and statements have generated some controversy, Kyrie Irving’s skill is highly regarded in the NBA world, and for good reason. Kyrie Irving has elevated the standard for all point guards going ahead with his incredible handles and unmatched ball handling skills. Irving is maybe at his finest during pivotal moments, and his ability to step up when things go tough is one of his most remarkable career traits.
Eight-time All-Star Irving is already guaranteed a spot in the Hall of Fame. Recognized as one of the greatest guards in contemporary basketball history, he has averaged 25.9 points, 5.2 assists, and 51 rebounds a game on 49.5% shooting throughout his career. Irving isn’t quite as good as Stephen Curry, but his standing as a big-time shot maker rivals that of anyone in the league and it’s earned him the respect of his peers, like Andre Iguodala and other former players.
Is Kyrie Irving’s Three-Pointer in Game 7 the Most Dependable Shot in NBA History?
Andre Iguodala may have been greatly influenced by Kyrie Irving’s clutch play during the 2016 Finals. He was able to witness what was possibly his best performance to yet. That summer, Golden State was looking to make history by winning back-to-back titles following a difficult Thunder series. Rather, they lost the series in part because of their own errors and in part because of the unmatched talent of the Cavaliers, namely LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
Together, the duo led the Cavaliers to a massive 4-3 series win, which stands as one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history. The highlight of that comeback came in Game 7, with the very Finals itself on the line. After LeBron’s amazing game-saving block a few plays before, Irving rose for a clutch three-pointer which he nailed with ease. The Cavaliers took the lead with that shot and went on to win the game to secure the franchise’s first title.
Just from that one play, Kyrie Irving established his reputation as a clutch player, and now his exploits in the closing minutes of games are giving veterans like Andre Iguodala nightmares. Irving hasn’t won anything significant since leaving the Cavaliers, and after a season and a half, his most recent endeavor with the Mavericks hasn’t proven successful. Nevertheless, his experiences in Cleveland will always influence how people perceive him.
Stephen Curry’s four titles demonstrate his equal ability to perform, yet he can be more easily contained than Uncle Drew because of his uncanny ability to generate space for a shot. He still instills dread in his opponents with his sheer talent and the myriads of ways he can make you pay by putting the ball through the net.