Kyrie Irving was asked about his team’s performance after their defeat of Team China in the 2016 Olympic Games and his answers are starting to echo that of LeBron James’.
In the first round of the Olympic basketball tournament, Kyrie Irving scored 12 points and went 4-for-5 from three-point range. Three of those shots were assisted.
Postgame, Irving was asked about what allowed him to catch fire in the third quarter. Irving responded by saying that it started with trusting his teammates.
In last season’s playoffs, Irving shot 57.1 percent on assisted threes and 37.1 percent on unassisted threes and so the additional focus on his catch-and-shoot ability will be a benefit to both himself and the team.
When asked about the team’s high number of assists, Irving said that unselfish basketball is a beautiful thing. Team USA had 31 total assists and Irving had five of them. Not only was there an increased intent to pass the ball from Irving, but the Cleveland Cavaliers point guard made sure to hit his targets in rhythm and with precision. Improving the timing and pace with which he makes passes in pick-and-rolls will only help Irving improve ability generate points from assists.
Irving is underrated as an assist generator as he’s been responsible for 30.0 percent of his team’s assists over his career. Playing next to a ball-dominant floor general in LeBron James hasn’t decreased the amount of time Irving has had the ball in his hands, however his assist numbers have dropped as he’s been found in scoring position by LeBron.
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As LeBron slowly approaches the last years of his career, Irving’s ability to find LeBron in the pick-and-roll will be key as the team seeks to keep LeBron’s scoring numbers up. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, the other Cavaliers expected to play for the team through 2020, will also benefit from Irving becoming a better passer in the pick-and-roll.
As Irving works on his game, another discernible difference is his focus on boxing-out his man as a rebounder. Though he only grabbed two total rebounds, one defensive and one offensive, his intent in boxing out helped Team USA to out-rebound China 52-29.
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Another difference has been seen his defensive focus, awareness, intensity, and readiness. Improving his positioning and showing his desire to be a difference maker for Team USA’s defense both on-and-off the ball allowed him to get a steal and hold his guard matchup to three points on 1-of-6 shooting.
Postgame, Irving said that in order to grow as a team and to better one’s basketball skill is a process, and it shows his understanding of what it takes to play the game of basketball at the highest level. These statements echo that of LeBron James.
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At 24, Irving has developed the mindset of a NBA champion. The world is watching Irving evolve right before their eyes in the Rio Olympics. Next season, Irving will be much improved as a basketball player as he evolves his basketball mind.