Kyrie Irving is a breathtaking offensive talent. He is the best ball handler of all time. He is one of, if not the best, under-the-rim finishers of all time as well. He’s influenced pick-up basketball more than any current NBA player other than Stephen Curry.
He also holds his own defensively when he chooses to do so. He was third on the Dallas Mavericks in blocks per game last season behind Christian Wood and Maxi Kleber after being acquired from the Brooklyn Nets.
And yet, depending on who you speak to, those talents aren’t always the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Irving.