The Celtics knocked off the Raptors in convincing fashion, giving Kyrie Irving a historic night on the court. After one of his game-winning shots, there was an interesting exchange that took place between him and teammate Evan Fournier:
“You are actually the most skilled player ever,” Fournier said to Irving after picking up his pass for a layup at with 5 seconds left. “I don’t know if you remember this from my old days but I had 60 points against Bynum back in Philly.”
“The NBA’s Most Skilled Ever?”
Kyrie Irving’s historic 45 point night to help the Celtics beat the Knicks has been met with a ‘most skilled ever’ take from teammate Evan Fournier. What makes this game-winning performance so noteworthy?
The “most skilled nba players of all time” is a phrase that has been thrown around before. But, it was recently used by Evan Fournier after Kyrie Irving had an incredible night against the Lakers.
During the Brooklyn Nets’ 150-108 thrashing of the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, it seemed like Kyrie Irving might cross into Kobe Bryant territory. Uncle Drew didn’t quite make it, but he did enough to give Evan Fournier of the New York Knicks high praise.
Irving set a club record with 60 points against the Magic, only a week after hitting 50 points in a victory against the Charlotte Hornets. In the midst of the debate about the COVID-19 requirement in New York City and his classification as a part-time player, Irving reminded supporters of his basketball prowess once again.
In fact, Fournier would choose Kyrie above anybody else in NBA history in terms of talent.
Kyrie Irving put up eye-popping shooting numbers on way to his 60-point performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e2 hoz3zLI
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Irving’s 50-point performance served as a stark reminder of his incredible scoring prowess. On Tuesday, he was just as thorough against the Magic.
Uncle Drew received a perfect score on all three levels. He made 20 of 31 shots overall, including 8 of 12 from beyond the arc. Irving also consistently attacked the basket, making 12-of-13 free-throw tries. It’s the type of all-around greatness that a player who just joined the 50-40-90 club could anticipate.
The stats, on the other hand, only tell half of the tale.
In the first half, Orlando was unable to control Irving. In less than 23 minutes, he scored 41 points. At one time, he seemed like he would be able to match Kobe Bryant’s 81-point effort from January 2006, which was the second-highest scoring total in NBA history.
That was never the case. Irving was replaced by the Nets soon after he scored 60 points in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, the virtuoso display drew the attention of the general public, including one of Kyrie’s crosstown competitors.
Irving has been dubbed the “most skilled” player in NBA history by Evan Fournier.
Kyrie is without a doubt the greatest talented player in history. I’m not sure it’s really a discussion.
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) March 16, 2022
On Tuesday, Evan Fournier was awestruck as he watched Kyrie Irving work.
Fournier took to Twitter after Nets-Magic with the assertion that Irving is the “most skilled player ever.” Not only does Fournier believe that to be the case, but he also suggested it’s not much of a debate.
Uncle Drew did indeed go all out in his world-record-breaking performance.
Irving attacked and evaded Magic defenders. He consistently went into the paint as the ball-handler in pick-and-rolls and hit pull-up triples off the dribble. When Kyrie is in rhythm, his handling and ability to get to his spots make him unguardable, and he utilizes his lightning speed to score at will in transition.
Irving’s game has a few nuanced aspects to it. He can beat opponents with both hands off the dribble, stopping on a dime and pulling up for jumpers or hop-stepping into the lane and finishing with finesse in traffic. His body control rivals that of some of the best scorers in NBA history.
Kyrie has also improved his off-the-ball play. On Tuesday, he cut backdoor for numerous scoring chances and exploited the extra space to look for catch-and-shoot possibilities.
Irving’s brilliance is astounding in its entirety. Is Fournier correct in declaring the Nets’ guard to be the most talented player in NBA history?
A well-rounded argument
On March 15, 2022, Brooklyn Nets #11 Kyrie Irving reacts after scoring during a game against the Orlando Magic | Mark Brown/Getty Images
It’s impossible to identify who the “highest proficient player” is.
Kyrie Irving is right up there in terms of overall package. He possesses the best handling in NBA history and shoots the ball like a pro. He’s a playmaker on and off the court and one of the league’s best shot makers.
Other tales, on the other hand, have a strong case. LeBron James is an exception because of his stature, athleticism, IQ, and court vision. Michael Jordan’s talent was unrivaled in his day, and Kobe Bryant followed in his footsteps as a player who dominated with superb footwork. Though he lacked exceptional physical talent, Larry Bird’s ability to clutter the stat sheet in every category is difficult to dispute. Not to mention that Kevin Durant, Irving’s teammate, is one of the best scorers in NBA history and a rare 7-footer.
Regardless of how supporters feel about Evan Fournier’s point of view, one thing is certain: the Nets need Kyrie on the court if they intend to win an NBA title.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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