HIGH SCHOOL
From a young age, Kyrie Irving always dreamt of playing in the NBA. His father, Dred, played college basketball at Boston University under legendary coach Rick Pitino. Kyrie, on numerous occasions, has credited his father for his craftiness on the hardwood. As a high-schooler, Irving spent two seasons at Montclair Kimberley Academy where he became just the second player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau. Following his sophomore season, Irving transferred to St. Patrick High School where he played alongside fellow NBAer Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. At the time, Irving and MKG were regarded as two of the most coveted recruits in all of college basketball. As a senior, Irving averaged 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game. He participated in several post-season All-Star events, including the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.
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COLLEGE
Irving committed to Duke University on October 22, 2009. In his lone season with the Blue Devils, Irving appeared in just 11 games, averaging 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. He was sidelined indefinitely after suffering a severe ligament injury in his right big toe during Duke’s ninth game of the regular season. Irving finally returned to the Blue Devils’ lineup on March 18, 2011 in the first game of the NCAA Tournament. Duke was ousted from the tournament by Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen. Irving scored 28 points in the loss, marking the end of his brief stint at Duke.
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LIFE IN THE NBA
Despite missing most of his freshman campaign, Irving elected to forgo his final three seasons of collegiate eligibility and enter his name into the 2011 NBA Draft. He was subsequently selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a rookie, Irving dazzled spectators with his awe-inspiring handles and proficiency from beyond the arc. Averaging 18.5 points and 5.4 assists per game, Irving was named 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year, collecting 117 of a possible 120 first-place votes.
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In his eight NBA seasons, Irving has earned six All-Star selections and was named All-Star Game MVP in 2014. He is currently in the first season of a four-year, $141 million contract, which he signed prior to Kevin Durant’s decision to join the Brooklyn nets with Irving.
The Nets have been in rebuild mode for quite some time, but it finally seems that they are ready to compete for a championship. With Irving and Durant at the helm, the Brooklyn Nets are have surrounded them with great young talents ready for breakout seasons. A career highlight of Irving includes the 2016 NBA Finals, trailing 3-1 in the Finals, Irving and James guided Cleveland to three consecutive wins, claiming the Cavaliers’ first title in franchise history. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Internationally, Irving has represented USA Basketball on several occasions. Most recently, Irving captured a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He was also a member of Team USA’s gold-medal-winning squad at the 2014 FIBA World Championship.