“Irving and Curry, one on one. Irving puts it up… It’s good! Kyrie Irving from downtown! And the Cavaliers lead by three!” (Mike Breen). Every Cavs fan will remember this moment — the clutch shot from Kyrie that gave Cleveland a championship. Kyrie was a fan favorite after being drafted in 2011. But due to a messy departure in 2018, caused by a trade request from Irving, some Cavaliers fans still have a sour taste in their mouths. Since his departure, three players have worn his number: Collin Sexton, Ty Jerome and Lonzo Ball. Yet without Kyrie, does Cleveland win that championship? Does Kevin Durant join the Warriors? And is it time to give Kyrie the respect he has earned? Prepare to see both sides of the coin.
Some people think Kyrie has done so much for the organization that he deserves to have his jersey in the rafters — and they have a case. Looking at his accomplishments with the team, Kyrie had four All-Star appearances, a championship, a Rookie of the Year award, and even an Olympic gold medal. This all came within about six years, which is remarkable for any player. Then there’s his impact in the playoffs. In the 2016 playoffs, he averaged 25.2 points per game with insane efficiency, posting an 87.5% true shooting percentage. In the Finals, his scoring jumped to 27 points per game, and he even dropped 41 points to force a Game 6. And who can forget “The Shot”? It’s Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the score tied at 89 with under a minute to go, when Kyrie sidesteps Curry and sinks a 25-foot bomb to put the Cavs in the lead. Cavs fan Brogan Hay put it this way: “He solidified his career solely because of his performance against the Warriors in 2016.”
However, there is another side to this. Kyrie only spent six seasons with the Cavaliers, which ended in poor fashion. After losing in the Finals to the Warriors, Kyrie Irving unexpectedly requested a trade, subsequently shutting any championship window Cleveland might have had. The reason? He wanted to lead his own team, not wanting to be the number two option. He later even declined to join LeBron in 2023. Now that he has matured, he has mentioned that they could have won more rings if he hadn’t left. But clearly, some fans still aren’t happy.
The post Should Kyrie Irving’s Number Be Retired? appeared first on Cleveland Sports Talk .