While some Cleveland Cavaliers’ fans try to cling to hope of Kyrie Irving staying, most should realize and appreciate what he did for the Land in his time.
Kyrie Irving requesting a trade did devastate the Cleveland Cavaliers’ fan base, as it should, but without him, they wouldn’t have ended their championship drought. So, when all is said and done and Irving is out, my message to fans is to remember Irving for the budding superstar he was for the Cavaliers.
Irving is just a shadow of the player he was when he first came to Cleveland. After averaging 18.5 points on a lackluster team that didn’t even get close to the playoffs his rookie season, Irving continued to work and has averaged over 20 points per game in four of his six seasons including over 25 points per game in the past two postseasons.
If Irving is traded this offseason, he will be remembered the most for his miraculous shot to put the Cavaliers on top of the Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The shot that was heard around the basketball world will forever live in Cleveland history.
The 2011 Rookie of the Year and 4x NBA All-Star requested a trade in one of the most respectable ways possible. He privately went to the ownership instead of giving his demands straight to the media. Irving has brought some of the drama on himself in the past couple weeks, but he is just 25-years-old. The superstar point guard, who has been on a bigger stage than most of us could ever imagine, wants to be the man and lead his own team.
According to Bleacher Report, John Wall said that “It’s kind of tough when you’re always in the shadow of someone else.” That is what I don’t think most fans can see.
LeBron James left to go win a couple rings and build his own team in Miami; Kyrie Irving wants to leave to be his own man and escape LeBron’s shadow. The teams that peaked his interest included San Antonio and New York, so he’s fine with playing alongside big names like Kawhi Leonard and Kristaps Porzingis. Ultimately, he wants to lead a team, and as fans, we can’t fault him for that.
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When looking back on what Kyrie Irving has done for Cleveland, fans should be thrilled they got to be a part of this young man’s life for his first six NBA years. As fans, we should appreciate the greatness that he has shown us and let him exit with the dignity of knowing that his first fan base supported him wanting a change.