Kyrie Irving is one of the most skilled and gifted players of this generation. The former champion has electrified audiences for the last 11 years with his incredible dribbling ability and natural scoring presence. However, that did not help the Brooklyn Nets, who were swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
One of the title favorites prior to the season, the Nets have capitulated under the pressure, with Kyrie in particular struggling for the last two games of the series. Irving is remembered for his game-winning three in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and many bring up his championship resume to promote his ability. However, Kyrie hasn’t come close to a championship since his last year with Cleveland in 2017.
After Irving failed with Kevin Durant, many comparisons have come up between KD and LeBron James, as Irving became a champion alongside LBJ and hasn’t done so with KD. In fact, Kyrie hasn’t even made it back to the Conference Finals since leaving Cleveland in 2017.
Kyrie Irving in the playoffs since he left LeBron and the Cavs:
2018: Got injured
2019: Second-round loss to Bucks in 5
2020: Got injured
2021: Got injured, second-round loss to Bucks in 7
2022: Got swept in first-round by Celtics
(via @TommyBeer) pic.twitter.com/GzcoEauvNq
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 26, 2022
Irving’s Boston Celtics made the Conference Finals in 2018, but Irving was injured and that team saw the emergence of rookie and sophomore players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two players instrumental in making sure the Nets got swept this season.
In 2019, the Celtics had a meltdown in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics after winning the first game of the series. Irving would leave for Brooklyn that summer, but wouldn’t be healthy enough to play in the 2020 Playoffs in the bubble. He got hurt last year as well, as Kevin Durant was forced to handle the Milwaukee Bucks alone.
LeBron was a serial Finals competitor, no matter the team he was on. Durant hasn’t shown that ability and Irving on his own hasn’t shown that. The struggle was real for Irving this season and he will be praying the Nets can put it together in the off-season.
