LeBron James Thinks Kyrie Irving Can Be the Best Point Guard in the NBA
LeBron James had his reasons for spurning the Miami Heat and returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
One of them was Kyrie Irving.
While at a Nike event to unveil his new shoe, the LeBron 12, James celebrated his new teammate, offering praise that's bound to make Chris Paul and Stephen Curry cackle or cringe, per Slam Magazine:
Irving is rarely referenced in such high regard, given his inability to rescue the James-less Cavaliers from obscurity and futility. What James says also loses some weight becauses he was equally—if not more—bullish on Kevin Love's status.
"We have so many great [power forwards]: Tim Duncan, if he's playing center or power forward, Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol is still very good," he said, per Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver. "But that's my vision, to maximize [Love's] potential, and his potential to be the best at his position."
More telling than Irving's lack of heroism and James' compliment parade, though, are the circumstances under which the former has been expected to distance Cleveland from its scar-stained past.
Help has been scarce. Powerhouses abound in the NBA, and while James is fresh off enjoying four years beside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Irving's best sidekicks have been Anderson Varejao, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and a half-season of Luol Deng.
Until now.
The return of James and the arrival of Love give Irving assistance most players can only dream about. And though their shining stars could—in theory—blind Irving into reluctant submission, Bleacher Report's Jim Cavan argues the exact opposite:
"What results is a picture of a player whose last two seasons risked stunting his superstar path, suddenly recovering his course. Albeit with a little help from his hardwood friends.
Conventional wisdom says the arrival of Cleveland's two newest stars will cast Irving to dimmer, darker corners. Really, it's the opposite we should be looking forward to: that James and Love will help illuminate, rather than eclipse, Irving's NBA future.
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Does Irving's future include a stint as the league's best floor general?
That's tough to definitively say.
Only four players who have appeared in a minimum of 50 games averaged at least 20 points and 5.5 assists per contest over the last three seasons. Irving is one; James, Curry and Russell Westbrook are the other three.
Pinning himself to such company so early in his career bodes well for Irving, but it's only the beginning. He's going to have competition in Paul, Curry, Westbrook, Damian Lillard, John Wall and Derrick Rose, among others.
Standing above everyone, even if he perfects his strengths and corrects his weaknesses, will be difficult for Irving. But like James deftly points out, it's not unreasonable to think he can become part of the conversation.
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