Kyrie Irving: Is the Top NBA Draft Prospect Over-Hyped?
Kyrie Irving is being lauded as the next Chris Paul as we get set for the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft.
The electric point guard played in just eight games for the Duke Blue Devils during the regular season, and wasn't 100 percent during the NCAA Tournament, but apparently many NBA scouts and experts have seen enough to christen him as the clear No. 1 pick in the draft.
But have we jumped ahead of ourselves? Are we seeing something that isn't there, or simply hoping it is?
It's fairly evident that this year's draft isn't the star-studded draft that we've been accustomed to in years past. Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams are the only players really being pronounced as the next potential superstars in the NBA.
But are we reaching for those superstars, or are Irving and Williams truly game-changers?
Read on, and I'll give you my take on one of them.
Is Duke's Kyrie Irving over-hyped?
Yes: He's Not the Next Chris Paul
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There are a few things to consider when comparing Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving.
First, their ability to score in traffic. This is the one area where I feel Irving truly resembles Paul. He's quick, has the ability to break defenders' ankles on a dime and has acutely soft touch even when swarmed under the hoop. When it comes to scoring ability, I believe Irving will resemble Paul.
But there are also other areas to address.
Irving isn't the same pass-first player that Paul was at Wake Forest. He's a great passer, but he projects to be more of a scorer than an elite passer in the NBA. He averaged 17.5 points in his freshman season with the Blue Devils, but his average of 4.3 assists doesn't exactly pop out to you. I don't doubt he'll collect his fair share of assists in the pros, but I think of him as more of a Russell Westbrook than a Chris Paul, with toned-down selfishness.
There's also who he had on his side. When Paul was at Wake Forest, he had Eric Williams and Justin Gray. Irving had Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler. A bit of difference there.
No: He Is the Next Chris Paul
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Despite his proclivity to be more of a scorer than a passer, Irving is still a tremendous passer. He also has the vision to be a stellar NBA point guard.
Beyond that, he knows the game. He brings it in every phase of the game and pours his soul onto the court, passing out due to exhaustion rather than let up for one minute.
His athleticism, speed and flashy moves also project him to be a star in the NBA, and not just one of those guys who excelled because the level of competition was much less athletic than the pros.
He could actually be a better scorer than Paul is when all is said and done, too.
Yes: We Haven't Seen Enough of Irving to Legitimately Crown Him
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To me, it's rather surprising how fast people are declaring Irving as the next superstar in the NBA.
Sure, he has the intangibles and skills. Honestly, there's not a whole lot not to like about him.
But the next Chris Paul? That seems like a reach, given we've only seen this kid for 11 total collegiate games.
When's the last time you saw a college player draw this much hype with so little collegiate experience?
Of course, we've seen it before with high school athletes, but do we honestly believe Irving has shown as much as the LeBron James' and Kobe Bryants of the world at this point?
You can't legitimately say he's going to be the next superstar in the NBA when you've seen bits and pieces of Irving. Superstars aren't born from flashes of brilliance, they're born from being brilliant night in and night out.
No: He's Excited More Than Any Other College Player in a Fraction of the Time
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There's always statistics, analysis and intangibles that a player is judged on. These days, athletes are scrutinized so closely that there is basically nothing we don't know about them, including where they went to dinner last night and what they ate.
Sometimes we are so concerned about what a player has done or weaknesses he apparently has that we forget what a player should be judged on: Can he play, and does he instantly excite us when he steps foot on the floor?
Kyrie Irving can play. And it's safe to say he's more exciting than any other prospect in this year's draft, despite the fraction of the time we've seen him play.
When you look at players like Chris Paul and LeBron James, they tend to make us forget all our judgments on just one play.
For example, when Paul crosses up a defender and threads a pass through a hole we didn't even know existed. Or when James hangs in the air and dunks over a defender who we swore had prime position for the block.
It's these plays that make us realize some players go beyond analysis and statistics. They go through obstacles and make them appear as if they're a mirage.
Conclusion
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So, is Kyrie Irving overhyped?
Of course he is. A prospect is over-hyped when being projected for the draft because he's never seen that next level; it's simply educated guesswork.
On top of that, Irving has not excelled enough at the collegiate level to grant comparisons to Chris Paul.
Can Irving become Paul? Of course he can. We all know he has the intangibles, skill set, mentality and, above all, desire.
In conclusion, Irving is as over-hyped as perhaps any prospect in this year's draft class, because he's the epitome of looking at a player purely on potential.
Until he dominates in the NBA, he will simply be an over-hyped athlete who has yet to accomplish anything.
