CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving failed to make the Eastern Conference All-Star team last February, and it marked the first time since his rookie season (2011-12) the former No. 1 overall pick was left off the squad.
His scoring, assist and shooting numbers were also the lowest of his young career, a combination of recovering from a severe knee injury suffered in the 2015 NBA Finals and switching head coaches halfway through the 2015-16 season.
What's transpired since that All-Star snub has been the ascension of one of the NBA's best offensive players and the resuming of a potential Hall of Fame career that has yet to scratch the surface of its incredible upside.