is known best for the beauty of his game, the breathtaking basketball artistry that he displays on a nightly basis as he wows fans with incredible handles, finishing, and shotmaking. He is a role model for what he can do on a basketball court, if not always in the form of winning. Irving was drafted first overall by the in 2011 and immediately burst onto the scene as one of the best young players, averaging 18.
5 points and 5.4 assists on 46.9 percent from the field and 39.
9 percent from three. Early in his career, it became clear that he could score at will against any defender, all the while doing things never seen before on an NBA floor. When Irving was joined in Cleveland by in the summer of 2014, it instantly became clear that his skills transferred to winning at the highest level, as he was the Robin to James' Batman on their way to three straight finals.
Irving was just as spectacular as James during their legendary 2016 Finals comeback over the 73-win , often serving as the primary ballhandler for Cleveland and even hitting an iconic game-winning three over in Game 7. At age 24, he was on top of the basketball world, a newly minted champion whose game every kid wanted to emulate. Unfortunately, one year later, he was traded to the and has been stunningly irrelevant in the seven years since.
Despite being in a perfect situation for his skillset as the number two next to LeBron James, competing for championships every season, Irving requested a trade in the summer of 201.