Talent, not leadership skills, led to Kyrie Irving's selection as the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.
Fast-forward three years later, and the Cleveland Cavaliers floor general is still driving the same car that brought him here.
The 22-year-old is relying on and fine-tuning his on-court skills: yo-yo handles, cotton-soft touch around the basket, a three-point stroke apt to catch fire at a moment's notice. As for piloting an NBA franchise, though, that remains a challenge he hasn't really started yet.
"Everybody asks me if this is my year to be a leader ... I haven’t been so far though, not at all," Irving told Real GM's Shams Charania. "I’ve just been a kid trying to figure it out."
There is a lot of truth in that statement.
He has been the Cavaliers' best player since his arrival. As the unchallenged face of the franchise, he was tasked with steering this ship back in the right direction after LeBron James infamously threw it off course in 2010.
The waters have been understandably treacherous. There were whispers of his unhappiness in Cleveland, talks ...
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Article written by Zach Buckley
Kyrie Irving Admits He Hasn’t Been a Leader for Cleveland Cavaliers
August 19th, 2014 by Zach Buckley Leave a reply »
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