June 19, 2013

Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving a “future MVP?”

January 29, 2013 by 12 Comments

In ESPN’s latest 5-on-5, several scribes tackle the point guard position. Given his recent accolades and award-winning week, it comes as little surprise that Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving is considered to be the consensus player with the most potential.

Kevin Arnovitz: It’s safe to say Kyrie Irving has graduated from potential status. That being the case, Damian Lillard tempts the imagination, as does Bledsoe, but the trajectory to follow is Jrue Holiday’s. Would love to see what he could do alongside a wing who demanded real attention.

DJ Foster: Kyrie Irving. You simply can’t stay in front of this kid. Irving hasn’t even played 100 games yet, but he might already be the best scorer and ball handler at the position, and his weaknesses defensively should melt away with more time. He has all the ability to be one of the best ever.

David Hopkins: I have to keep reminding myself that Kyrie Irving is only 20 years old and in his second season. Irving is the next truly elite-level point guard — one of those awe-inspiring players who upgrades his game every offseason. If I were a GM, I’d take him over almost anybody not named LeBron James or Kevin Durant.

Brett Koremenos: Kyrie Irving. The kid is already an elite passer and scorer at just the tender age of 20. It’s almost scary to see where he’s going to be in five years

Jeremy Schmidt: Even the sky seems like too much of a limit for Kyrie Irving. He controls the ball on the dribble like it’s part of his body. There’s nothing he can’t make it do. And he combines his ball-handling prowess with incredible athleticism, a deadly jumper and an obvious desire to win. He’s a clear future MVP.

Presently, Irving gives way to players like Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo when it comes to defense and Stephen Curry when it comes to spot-up shooting. As recently seen with the All-Star debate, the Cavaliers will undoubtedly have to win considerably more games if the All-Everything guard is ever able to lob his name in to league MVP talks.

[Related: Does Kyrie Irving have a second act up his sleeve?]

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  • TSR3000

    Music to my eyes. I can’t wait to see what he becomes. Hopefully his talent alone will attract a worthy #2 to join him.

  • http://twitter.com/bbo13 B-bo

    Yup, we know that’s exactly how it works…

  • http://twitter.com/The_Real_Du Derek DuRoss

    The most amazing thing about this article is that there is not one single mention of the name Derrick Rose. That nasty ACL injury has certainly set him back. But I would bet Rose is more than motivated to prove he can return to form.

  • saggy

    Just how good is LeBron? He is way better than Kyrie. Cavs were a 50+ win team with LeBron and the D-Leaguers.

    I hope Kyrie can begin to dominate like that – but it’s much harder from the PG position.

    Regardless, I LOVE watching him play.

  • mgbode

    yes, not even a mention. though, when you look at the injury and the questions, it’s not really surprising:

    1. best passer? that’s not Rose anyway

    2. best shooter? definitely not Rose

    3. best defender? he’s definitely “in the discussion” with Rondo/Paul (and somehow Bledsoe gets a mention even though he plays limited minutes and usually not against the opposing teams starting PG). Hard to say how he will be coming back this season, but at some point, you’d think he’d regain his form.

    4.best floor general? noone touches CP3 there right now

    5. most potential? Rose is a “known” Heck, one writer thought Kyrie was too much of a known quantity.

    If they would have asked the best scoring PG, best all around PG, or best driving PG, then Rose’s exclusion would have been even more glaring.

  • Jaker

    I said this before, but ESPN should really start re-airing the “I think we found Kyrie Irving” commercials (i know that they did not “find” him and that he has been kicking butt all season and that ESPN has spurned the Cavs by not giving them any attention whatsoever, so they don’t deserve that great slogan, but it would be a smart move to air that ad because the kid is EN FUEGO right now, and everyone is starting to realize that he’s HERE).

  • Jaker

    Also, they should give the Cavs a game or two in the second half, maybe a Rose vs Irving matchup would be worthy of the greatest network ever! God forbid the Cavs get on ESPN!!!

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Irving and Lillard will be the faces of the NBA as far as the PG position goes for years.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    ESPN’s basketball coverage is a joke I’d much rather see the Cavaliers on TNT. TNT and NBATV kill, crush, demolish ESPN. The only announcer worse then Jeff Van Gundy is Jon I’m the worst sibling Barry.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Can’t wait for DRose to get back even if it’s for the Bulls. CP3, Rose, Irving and Lillard are my favorite PGs in the NBA.

  • Jaker

    I just want them on national TV

  • ThatAlex

    It is also interesting that Russell Westbrook isn’t mentioned in the article either. But then again I wouldn’t consider him the “best” in any of the categories brought up in the article, so I guess it makes sense.