Kyrie Irving was recently seen talking to the media after practice at the Mavericks’ training facility. During the press conference, Kyrie told reporters that he wished that the Dallas Mavericks had drafted him 1st overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. The statement came as a shock to many as his Cavaliers days helped the veteran guard win his only Championship.
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Irving was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2011 as the first overall pick. The star guard played for the Cavaliers for seven straight seasons, even winning the iconic 2016 Championship playing alongside LeBron James. However, the 31-year-old feels his career would have seen a better trajectory under the Mavs’ organization.
The Mavericks guard told reporters, “I wish I would have got drafted by Dallas initially. Obviously, they weren’t in position in 2011 [to draft me]. But just feeling how this organization wraps their arms around a guy“.
It’s pretty clear that Kyrie is very happy with the way he is being treated in Dallas. The veteran guard also had a lot to say about his pairing with superstar Luka Doncic.
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— James Burnes (@JamesBurnes8) September 29, 2023
“With me and Luka, we are just so skilled. He makes the game so easy for everyone around him. I think we got a lot of open shots last year because of the attention he garnered. I think I just came in and tried to alleviate some of the pressure. Sometimes I know we were a little too passive with each other, we are both killers on the court, everyone knows that,” Kyrie added.
The Mavericks had traded away most of their picks and assets the year before while putting together the 2011 Championship roster. By the time the draft rolled into the picture, the Mavs were only left with the 26th and 57th pick in the Draft. However, one thing’s for sure, the Mavs would have had a great tandem between Kyrie and Luka much earlier had they drafted the former Cavs star in 2011.
Luka and Kyrie to play preseason for ‘chemistry’
Kyrie and Luka seem to get along just fine off the court. Kyrie was even seen supporting his star teammate throughout the FIBA World Cup 2023. But on the court, the duo has prompted ‘chemistry’ and ‘ball-sharing’ concerns. They seemed to have taken note of the critics, and have started to work out together.
In fact, Luka and Kyrie have decided to play preseason games to improve their chemistry on and off the court. Preseason, which is usually reserved for rookies and bench players to prove themselves, very rarely sees big players giving their all. But Kyrie and Luka are desperate to improve this year.
