- NBA legend gets real on the league’s elite guards
- McGrady picks Irving as top iso player over Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard
- Irving still considered among the elite stars despite a tumultuous past
Some would argue that a one-on-one basketball game is the purest form of the sport that there is. With no teammates to bail you out, it’s up to the player to create space and get off a quality shot. Of course, in the NBA, people are only really worried about team play but it doesn’t mean that we can’t argue about who is the best 1v1 player of them all.
If you ask NBA legend Tracy McGrady, the answer is Kyrie Irving and he explained why in a chat with OBL Hoops: “I think there are a handful of guards that I think are must-see TV in 1v1… Steph, Kyrie, Dame is one of those guys. I would even put somebody like Bradley Beal in there. De’Aaron Fox. But to me, it’s Kyrie [Irving]. He’s the best guard in the league 1v1.”
Tracy McGrady says Kyrie is the best 1v1 guard in the league:
"I think there are a handful of guards that I think are must-see TV in 1v1… but to me, it's Kyrie [Irving]."
(🎥 @OBLhoops) pic.twitter.com/Z2ZTg01QQ1
— Kyrie Center (@kyriecenterig) September 10, 2023
Some fans were taken aback by McGrady’s choice, especially since he specifically mentioned Stephen Curry in the clip. Curry is probably the NBA’s best all-around point guard right now given what he was able to do with the Warriors last season, but when you talk about 1v1 play, Kyrie Irving is clearly above the field. As arguably the best ball handler in NBA history, Irving can create space like nobody else and it’s why he has not lost his place in the NBA after years of sowing chaos.
Is Kyrie Really The Best 1-On-1 Guard In The NBA?
For all the trouble that Kyrie can bring to a franchise, there is no arguing his amazing skill set. Over 12 years in the NBA, Uncle Drew has cemented himself as a historically talented superstar of unmatched abilities.
Offensively, Irving can do it all as a scorer and playmaker. With handles that exceed even the greatest legends, Irving has a way of creating space in any situation and he constantly finds ways to get around his defenders. He can shoot threes, make layups, and even throw up a floater if the situation calls for it.
Last season with the Mavericks, he averaged 27.1 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game on 49.4% shooting. His best performance of all, however, was in the 2016 Finals when he fearlessly stepped up down the stretch to help bring a title to Cleveland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2lKIW9TNjk
Kyrie’s Last Chance With The Mavericks
At this point, Kyrie’s superstar talent is the only thing keeping him in the league. After burning bridges in Cleveland, Boston, and Brooklyn, Irving landed with the Mavericks and this may well be his last chance to win another championship.
Last season, with Luka, Dallas failed to even qualify for the play-in tournament and it was classified as a major disappointment in the eyes of the NBA community. Sadly, help is not due to arrive for the Mavericks and it falls on Luka and Irving to lead a better path forward for the franchise.
Either way, Kyrie, an 8x All-Star, 1x champion, and 3x All-NBA player, still has a long way to go before he reaches full redemption and only a success story with Dallas will begin to change the narrative of his storied career.
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