Lakers' LeBron James Calls Kyrie Irving 'Most Gifted Player' Ever in NBA in New Video
June 4, 2024
As he prepares to watch Kyrie Irving compete for an NBA title with the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has high praise for his former teammate.
"He's the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen," James said of Irving during this week's episode of the Mind the Game podcast. "He has the best gifts I've ever seen in any NBA player."
Mind the Game @mindthegamepod.<a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KingJames</a> talks about the gifts and growth of his former teammate, Kyrie Irving.<br><br>Full episode of Mind the Game with <a href="https://twitter.com/jj_redick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jj_redick</a> drops tomorrow: <a href="https://t.co/PKXXT3EcGJ">https://t.co/PKXXT3EcGJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/M3uMFATEXE">pic.twitter.com/M3uMFATEXE</a>
Irving has averaged 22.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals to help lead the Mavs to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011, where they will face the Boston Celtics. He has thrived in a secondary role behind Dallas star guard Luka Doncic, and James said while he's "so f--king happy and so proud" to see Irving's growth, he's "so f--king mad" that he's not Irving's running mate anymore.
James and Irving reached three straight NBA Finals together during their time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, leading the team to the 2016 NBA title. However, Irving requested to be traded in the 2017 offseason out of his desire to emerge from James' shadow and was sent to the Celtics. While the two of them have flirted with reuniting, they haven't played together since.
James said he called Irving "The Wizard" during their time as teammates because "there was nothing on the basketball floor that Kyrie couldn't do." He went on to praise Irving's effectiveness with finishing with either hand, calling his game-winning left-handed hook shot against the Denver Nuggets during the regular season "one of the most ridiculous shots I've ever seen in my life."
"I've never seen a guy in my NBA life that feels better at times shooting with his offhand than he does with his primary," James said. "If Kyrie is off in a game with his right hand, he will literally go exclusively to his left hand. I've never seen nothing like that."
Irving will try to get his quest for his second championship ring continuing in the right direction when the Mavs visit the Celtics for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
