Kyrie Irving

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Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving cropped.jpg
Irving with the Cavaliers
No. 2 – Cleveland Cavaliers
Point guard
Personal information
Born (1992-03-23) March 23, 1992 (age 21)
Melbourne, Australia
Nationality Australian / American
Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight 191 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school St. Patrick
(Elizabeth, New Jersey)
College Duke (2010–2011)
NBA Draft 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Pro career 2011–present
League National Basketball Association
Career history
2011–present Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Kyrie Andrew Irving (born March 23, 1992) is an Australian-American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He started at point guard for Duke University as a freshman before being selected as the 1st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by Cleveland. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2012. Irving was born in Melbourne, Australia and grew up in New Jersey.

Contents

Early life

Kyrie Irving was born on March 23, 1992 in Melbourne, Australia. He was the second child to be born to Drederick and Elizabeth Irving. He has an older sister, Asia, and a younger sister, London. His father played for Boston University then went on to play professional basketball in Australia for the Bulleen Boomers.[1] Irving lived in the small town of Cue, Australia before relocating to the United States when he was two years old.[2][3] He has dual citizenship in the United States and Australia.[2] Irving's mother, Elizabeth, died from an illness when he was four, so Drederick raised him with the help of Irving's aunts.[3] He grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, where he often went to his dad's adult-league games.[3][4] His inspiration to play in the NBA came after playing at Continental Airlines Arena during a school trip in fourth grade where he stated "I will play in the NBA, I promise".[3] As a teenager, Irving played for the Road Runners of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).[5][6]

High school career

Irving during his tenure with St. Patrick High School

Kyrie Irving played for Montclair Kimberley Academy his freshman and sophomore years in high school. He averaged 26.5 points, 10.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 steals and became only the school's 2nd 1,000 point scorer. In his sophomore year, he led Montclair to its first New Jersey Prep 'B' state title.[5][7] After that year, he transferred to St. Patrick High School because he felt he needed a bigger challenge.[5] He had to sit out the first 30 games of St. Patrick's season due to the transfer.[7] While at St. Patrick, Irving played with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was widely regarded as one of the best players in the class of 2011.[8][9] In his first season at St. Patrick, Irving averaged 17.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 6.0 apg. and 2.0 spg. He also led his team to their third New Jersey Tournament of Champions title in four years. In August 2009, he played in the Nike Global Challenge in which he led the USA East to the tournament title. He was the MVP with 21.3 ppg. and 4.3 apg[6] The following year, St. Patrick was banned from the state tournament for holding practice prior to the permitted start of the winter sports season.[6][10] Despite being banned from the state tournament, St. Patrick went 24-3 and won the Union County Tournament championship. Kyrie finished his senior year with 24.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg. and 7.0 apg.[6] In his two years at St. Patrick, he lettered twice.[1]

On January 19, 2010, Irving was selected to the 2010 Junior National Select Team. The team played at the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, on April 10.[6][11] He was also selected to play in the 2010 McDonald's All-American Game and the 2010 Jordan Brand Classic, where he was named as co-MVP with Harrison Barnes.[12][13] In June 2010 Irving was a part of the United States gold medal winning team at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship.[14] Irving was the #2 player in the class of 2010 by Scout.com,[15] #3 player in the ESPNU 100,[16] and rated as the #4 player by Rivals.com.[17] In addition, he was ranked #1 among point guards by ESPNU in 2010.[18]

College career

Irving committed to Duke on October 22, 2009, in a television broadcast on ESPNU.[19] Irving started playing with Duke in the 2010–11 basketball season under the guidance of head coach Mike Krzyzewski. He led the team in scoring at 17.4 points per game on 53.2% shooting through the first eight games of the season. In addition, he added 5.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as he quickly began to make his case for NCAA Freshman of the Year.

In Duke's 9th game of the season, Irving suffered a severe ligament injury in his right big toe that sidelined him indefinitely.[20] His right foot was placed in a cast on December 10, 2010. The cast was removed on February 4, 2011, and Irving began rehab.[21]

On March 17, the day before Duke played Hampton in the first round of the NCAA tournament, it was revealed that Kyrie would return for his first game since December 4. It was announced that he would come off of the bench and play limited minutes.[22][23]

Duke lost to Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen. Irving scored 28 points in what turned out to be his last game for Duke.[24]

College statistics

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2010–11 Duke 11 11 27.5 .529 .462 .901 3.4 4.3 1.5 0.5 17.5
Career 11 11 27.5 .529 .462 .901 3.4 4.3 1.5 0.5 17.5

Professional career

Cleveland Cavaliers (2011–present)

Irving announced that he would forgo his final three seasons of eligibility and enter the 2011 NBA Draft where he was the number 1 pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers.[25][26] He signed an agent in early May 2011.[27] Irving signed a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside rookie teammate Tristan Thompson on December 10, 2011.

Irving got off to a fast start, and through twenty-three games, had ten games with 20+ points, including a loss to the Nets in which he had 32 points. In that game, Irving scored 21 points in the fourth quarter alone.

Both Irving and his teammate Thompson were named to the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge. However, Irving played for Team Chuck, while Thompson played for Team Shaq. Irving scored 34 points in the game, earning MVP honors.[28] Irving won the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, receiving 117 of a possible 120 first-place votes.[29] Irving was also the only unanimous selection to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.[30] Over the season, he averaged 18.5 points, 5.4 assists and shot .469 from the field and .399 on three-pointers.[31]

In a Las Vegas-based Cavaliers practice on July 14, 2012, Irving sustained a broken right hand after reportedly slapping it against a padded wall after committing a turnover.[32] "I am a little disappointed," remarked Irving. "I have to be more responsible about my health. It was just crazy. It happened so fast."[32] It was announced that Irving would require surgery on July 18th to repair the hand.[33][34]

2012–13

Irving injured his index finger on November 17 in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. While he did play in the Cavaliers' next game, Irving's injury forced him to miss three weeks of action.[35]

In his second game back against the New York Knicks on December 15, Irving scored a career-high 41 points along with five rebounds and five assists while wearing a black protective face mask, having broken a bone on a hard fall against Milwaukee. Irving became the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 points in Madison Square Garden as he was a year younger than when Michael Jordan did it in 1985.[36]

Irving was selected for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, making his first appearance in the event.

Irving also made his first appearance in the NBA Three-Point Shootout, and scored 23 points in the final round to defeat Matt Bonner.

Irving also participated in the Rising Stars Game, scoring 32 points for Team Shaq in a losing effort.[37]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2011–12 Cleveland 51 51 30.5 .469 .399 .872 3.7 5.4 1.1 0.4 18.5
2012–13 Cleveland 59 59 34.7 .452 .391 .855 3.7 5.9 1.5 0.4 22.5
Career 110 110 32.8 .459 .394 .862 3.7 5.7 1.3 0.4 20.6
All-Star 1 0 25.0 .545 .500 .000 3.0 4.0 0.0 0.0 15.0

Personal life

He enjoys reading and keeping a journal.[1] He also likes to sing, dance and play the baritone sax. His godfather is former NBA player Rod Strickland.[5]

Irving has made a promise to his father that he would finish his bachelor's degree at Duke by taking classes during the next few summers.[38] In 2012, he took on the role of "Uncle Drew" in a series of Pepsi Max advertisements.[39][40] In the same year, he appeared on an episode of the Disney XD series Kickin' It.[41]

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kyrie Irving Bio - Duke University". Duke Sports Information. May 16, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2013. 
  2. ^ a b "Kyrie Irving is Committed to the Red, White and Blue". USA Basketball. June 21, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2013. 
  3. ^ a b c d Spears, Marc (June 17, 2011). "Irving rewards father’s perseverance". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved March 12, 2013. 
  4. ^ Appleman, Jake (February 29, 2012). "Cavs’ Irving, a No. 1 Pick, Is Exceeding Expectations". New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2013. 
  5. ^ a b c d Boyer, Mary (May 31, 2011). "Kyrie Irving wants to remain normal, but Cleveland Cavaliers' potential No. 1 pick is anything but, say coaches, teammates". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 12, 2013. 
  6. ^ a b c d e "2010 USA Junior National Select Team Media Guide" (PDF). USA Basketball. April 7, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2013. 
  7. ^ a b Zagoria, Adam (January 19, 2009). "Kyrie Irving ready to return after wait period". RivalsHigh (Yahoo! Sports). Retrieved March 13, 2013. 
  8. ^ "2011 Prospect Rating - Top 150". Rivals.com. November 11, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2013. 
  9. ^ "College Basketball Team Recruiting Prospects". Scout.com. 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2013. 
  10. ^ Huff, Doug (February 22, 2010). "St. Patrick banned from state tourney". ESPNRise.com. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  11. ^ Ceglinsky, Sean (January 20, 2010). "It’s the USA Against Everyone Else". Slam Online. Retrieved March 13, 2013. 
  12. ^ "Kyrie Irving Selected For McDonald’s All-American Game". Duke Sports Information. February 12, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2013. 
  13. ^ "Harrison Barnes And Kyrie Irving Named Co-MVPs Of The 2010 Jordan Brand Classic". TheStreet.com. April 18, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2013. 
  14. ^ "Irving & Hairston Win Gold With USA U18 Team". USA Basketball. July 1, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2013. 
  15. ^ "College Basketball Team Recruiting Prospects". Scout.com. 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  16. ^ "Recruiting Database - 2010 ESPN 100". ESPN. 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  17. ^ "Rivals 150 - 2010 Prospect Ranking". Rivals.com. 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  18. ^ "Recruiting Database - 2010 ESPN Top Point Guards". ESPN. 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  19. ^ Riggs, Randy. "Irving picks Duke over Aggies, Kentucky". Retrieved 6 August 2012. 
  20. ^ "Duke guard Kyrie Irving out indefinitely with toe injury". usatoday.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 6 August 2012. 
  21. ^ DeCourcy, Mike. "Duke's Kyrie Irving will have injured right toe examined next week". aol.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 6 August 2012. 
  22. ^ Kirk, Jason. "Kyrie Irving Could Return To Play In NCAA Tournament First Round Vs. Hampton". sbnation.com. Retrieved 6 August 2012. 
  23. ^ Hall, Tim. "Irving says toe feels good, could play in NCAA". wralsportsfan.com. Retrieved 6 August 2012. 
  24. ^ "Derrick Williams, Arizona crush Duke's hopes to repeat as champions". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved 6 August 2012. 
  25. ^ "Cleveland Cavaliers select Kyrie Irving as first overall pick in NBA draft". Guardian. 24 June 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2011. 
  26. ^ "In Draft Considered Low Impact, Cavaliers Choose Duke’s Irving First". New York Times. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011. 
  27. ^ "Kyrie Irving entering NBA draft". ESPN.com. April 6, 2011. 
  28. ^ Irving steals Rising Stars Challenge as Lin goes silent. Usatoday.com (2012-02-24). Retrieved on 2012-05-05.
  29. ^ Boyer, Mary Schmitt (May 15, 2012). "Early failure set path to Rookie of the Year success for Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved May 16, 2012. 
  30. ^ "Irving, Rubio headline 2011–12 NBA All-Rookie First Team". Retrieved 23 May 2012. 
  31. ^ "Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving named Kia Rookie of the Year" (Press release). NBA. May 15, 2012. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. 
  32. ^ a b "Cavaliers' Irving breaks right hand after slapped padding on wall". SportsIllustrated.CNN.com. AP. July 14, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012. 
  33. ^ Boyer, Mary Schmitt (July 14, 2012). "Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving fractures hand in summer league workout". The Plain Dealer (Cleveland.com). Retrieved July 15, 2012. 
  34. ^ "Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving to have hand surgery Wednesday – ESPN". Espn.go.com. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2013-02-08. 
  35. ^ ESPN.com Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  36. ^ "Kyrie Irving drops career-high 41, but Cavs fall to Knicks." ESPN.com Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  37. ^ "Team Shaq at Team Chuck". 
  38. ^ Eisenberg, Jeff (May 20, 2011). "Kyrie Irving intends to finish his college degree in five years". Yahoo! Sports. 
  39. ^ "Kyrie Irving Reveals 'Uncle Drew' Inspiration". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 15 January 2013. 
  40. ^ "Love Appears In Successful "Uncle Drew" Series". NBA. Retrieved 15 January 2013. 
  41. ^ Irving on Disney show, return of his 'uncle'

External links

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