Wow. I didn't realize Kyrie Irving was incredible.

[letsgoblue86]

He's kinda small, but that nba training will help him bulk up.

[ianboyextreme]

Im serious when I say he reminds me of Kobe and Michael with his mix of natural ability as well as fundamentals.

[GreenFaith1819]

Nice post.

I would not be surprised if there was some validity to Lebron going back to CLE. After all, he would have Kyrie there, and Andy would still be there, too.

Imagine Kyrie in 2 more years?

Toss in the fact that they'll probably miss the playoffs this year, get a few more pieces through the draft, and whatnot.

So in two-three yrs, if things don't work out in MIA(And I hope they DON'T ) - Lebron could go back to CLE and have a VERY good team there waiting for him.

What a story.

]

Currently they have the 8th best odds of landing Anthony Davis.  I'm just saying.

Even more reason for LeGone James to bail out on MIA in 2-3 years, lol.....

Imagine Kyrie, Andy, Tony Davis, Tristan Thomas, Lebron and whatever other pieces they could acquire by then.

What a potential heist job by Lebron. And it wouldn't suprise me one bit.

[PosImpos]

Interesting comparing Kyrie's rookie season to other recent highly-touted rookie PGs:


http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&p1=evansty01&y1=2010&p2=irvinky01&y2=2012&p3=walljo01&y3=2011&p4=rosede01&y4=2009&p5=jennibr01&y5=2010

[PosImpos]

Comparison to rookie seasons of some other somewhat recent star PGs:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&p1=irvinky01&y1=2012&p2=willide01&y2=2006&p3=paulch01&y3=2006&p4=thomais01&y4=1982&p5=marbust01&y5=1997

[LooseCannon]

Is there any comparison to what he's doing at age 19??  It's nothing short of incredible.

Limited to players with 30 or more games played in a season

Irving currently has a WS/48 of .147 (.100 is roughly average)  Teenagers with a WS48 of .115: Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Chris Bosh, Thaddeus Young, Tracy McGrady, and Andris Biedrins (twice).

Teenagers who have averaged at least 15 ppg: Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Stephon Marbury, Kevin Durant

Teenagers who have averaged at least 4 apg: LeBron James, Tony Parker, Stephon Marbury, Shaun Livingston

Teenagers who have shot at least 37.5% on threes: Kobe Bryant, Jrue Holiday

[LarBrd33]

Is there any comparison to what he's doing at age 19??  It's nothing short of incredible.

Limited to players with 30 or more games played in a season

Irving currently has a WS/48 of .147 (.100 is roughly average)  Teenagers with a WS48 of .115: Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Chris Bosh, Thaddeus Young, Tracy McGrady, and Andris Biedrins (twice).

Teenagers who have averaged at least 15 ppg: Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Stephon Marbury, Kevin Durant

Teenagers who have averaged at least 4 apg: LeBron James, Tony Parker, Stephon Marbury, Shaun Livingston

Teenagers who have shot at least 37.5% on threes: Kobe Bryant, Jrue Holiday

Good stuff...

The WS/48 thing... don't even know what to say about it, because a couple of those guys were averaging like 10 minutes a game. 

A couple slightly misleading points... Like Kobe shooting 37.5% on threes. He only took 130 of them his rookie season.  Shot 41% overall that season and only averaged 7.6 points.  The next year (age 19) he averaged 15 points, shot 43% and only 34% from three.  So... it wouldn't be a stretch to say Kyrie Irving at age 19 is better than Kobe Bryant at age 19.  In fact... if we're just looking at shooting percentages, Kobe has never in his entire career come close to shooting the percentages that Kyrie is currently averaging.  Naturally I probably just jinxed Kyrie and he'll go into a shooting slump, but I'm just sayin... Kobe has never shot over 47% and has never shot over 38% from three.  For his career he has shot 45%, 34% from three and 83% from the line.  If Kyrie can keep this up his rookie season, with almost no help, and being his team's top scorer... wow.  Unreal.

[Roy H.]

Apparently, Kyrie Irving is the 43rd player in NBA history to average at least 18 pts and shoot 48% FG, 40% 3pt and 80% FT.  Assuming he keeps those averages up, that's pretty amazing stuff, especially for a 19 year old.

[mmmmm]

What more is there to say than to just chime in with, "Wow - The kid is freaking awesome!"

I first noticed him a few games before the first Bos-Cle game, because he started to tear up other teams.   I sorta remembered then, oh yeah, wasn't he a high draft pick or something?

I think the comment that he plays like a 5-year vet already is spot on.

Cleveland fans can be happy about some good karma coming their way as a consequence of 'The Decision'.  Irving is definitely on his way to being a super star.

[Adelaide Celt]

I'd love to see this kid playing for Australia at the Olympics

[Celtics4ever]

Imagine Kyrie, Andy, Tony Davis, Tristan Thomas, Lebron and whatever other pieces they could acquire by then.

What a potential heist job by Lebron. And it wouldn't suprise me one bit.

Irving would have to take the big shot as LeBron would not.  Besides a lot of folks hate him in CLE nowadays.

[thestackshow]

Hes definately good, tons of potential in that kid. I feel great for the cleveland fans, they will be a playoff team with a couple more pieces, or maybe in a few years while the young pieces they have just get better.

[Smutzy#9]

I'd love to see this kid playing for Australia at the Olympics

Id love to see nic nat play for Australia at the olympics.

i think Irving has gone under everyones radar. He has surely exceeded my expectations of him. For a number 1 draft pick he isnt that polarising which is how he has slipped under peoples radar.

[SHAQATTACK]

I would die if the Lakers got him...it would be as bad as CP3 going there

[jimmehx]

I had no idea he was so young..! He's on track to being something special.