In 2016, Kyrie Irving was a huge part of helping the Cleveland Cavaliers overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals to defeat the 73-9 Warriors and win the Cavs their first NBA championship. In 2017, he returned to the finals. Although his team didn’t stand a chance vs. the Warriors, who had now added Kevin Durant, he still put up great numbers.
Kyrie Irving’s journey to return to the finals has been one of the craziest stories in NBA history. The past few seasons for Irving have been filled with the highest highs and the lowest lows. Despite all the obstacles, Irving has found a home in Dallas and has helped them make their first NBA finals since 2011.
Kyrie Irving in 2018
In the 2017 offseason, Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was eventually sent to the Boston Celtics, where he did well in his first season. The team held a top two seed in the eastern conference and looked poised to make the finals. However, Irving had to have season ending surgery which changed the expectations. The Celtics still made it to the eastern conference finals but ultimately lost to Irving’s former team, the Cavs.
Kyrie Irving in 2019
The Celtics entered 2019 with expectations to make the finals and compete with the Warriors. The team had made the eastern conference finals the season before and got Irving and Gordon Hayward back from injury. However, the team didn’t end up fitting together well and ended up with a fourth seed. There was hope in the playoffs, but the entire roster fell flat vs. the Bucks and the Celtics lost in the second round.
Kyrie Irving in 2020
Irving was a free agent after the 2019 season. He decided to sign with the Brooklyn Nets, along with Kevin Durant. Durant was scheduled to miss the entire 2020 season recovering from a torn Achilles. Irving was left as the lone star for the 2020 season. He ended up playing just 20 games. Spencer Dinwiddie stepped up for the Nets by averaging 20 points per game to get them the seventh seed. Irving would not return for the bubble later in the season.
Kyrie Irving in 2021
2021 may very well be the best season of Irving’s career. He shot 51 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 92 percent from the free throw line. To this day it stands as the last season in which Irving made an all NBA team. The Nets acquired James Harden via trade and made themselves an offensive super team. Unfortunately, Irving got hurt in the second round vs. the Bucks, which ultimately led to the Nets being eliminated.
Kyrie Irving in 2022
New York City implemented COVID vaccine rules that required proof of COVID vaccination to enter a stadium. Irving had refused the vaccine, which prevented him from playing home games. Harden was one of many players frustrated by this and ended up requesting a trade. At first the Nets kept him out entirely for the sake of continuity. However, as the season wore on, they needed players, so Irving got to play. Towards the end of the season, the restrictions were lifted, so Irving got to play at home in the play-in game to defeat the Cavaliers. However, both Durant and Irving struggled vs. the Celtics and the team lost in the first round.
Kyrie Irving in 2023
The Nets season got off to a poor start, which led to the firing of Coach Steve Nash. To make things worse, Irving posted a link to a movie from Amazon that contained anti-Semitic disinformation. Once Irving got back from the suspension for this post, the Nets started to click. However, after Irving found out the Nets were not going to give him the maximum salary, he requested a trade, ending up on the Mavericks. There were some growing pains in Dallas as the team ended up missing the playoffs.
Kyrie Irving in 2024
The Mavericks were expected to make the playoffs in 2024, but there were questions on if two offensive-minded guards could make it far. Irving and Luka Dončić have worked great together so far in 2024. They became the first team since the 2010 Lakers to defeat three 50-win teams on their way to the finals. Irving averaged 27 points vs. the elite Timberwolves defense in the western conference finals.
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