Kyrie Irving by Martin Gitlin

Kyrie Irving by Martin Gitlin

Author:Martin Gitlin [Gitlin, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BIO016000 Biography & Autobiography / Sports, SPO004000 Sports & Recreation / Basketball
Publisher: Nebraska


11

The Off-Season of Dreams

Two days had passed since The Good Shot had replaced The Bad Shot in the hearts and minds of Cleveland fans forever. The Good Shot was the three-pointer that Kyrie Irving nailed to give the city its first championship in more than half a century. The Bad Shot was one of many symbols of heartache (including The Drive, The Fumble, and The Mesa Meltdown) that had burdened northeast Ohio for years—including the legendary Michael Jordan buzzer-beating Game 5 jumper that turned a dream into a nightmare in the first round of the 1989 Eastern Conference playoffs.

Irving relished the moment as he joined his father, sister, and close friends at the dining room table the day before the biggest parade in Cleveland history. Suddenly he became solemn, nearly tearful, as he glimpsed at the spot where the mother he lost at age four would have sat. He had barely gotten to know her, but he understood the impact she had made on his life and the lives of those family members who meant so much to him. “I just really want to thank everyone for their support,” he said.

The message was the same to teammates when Irving was provided the opportunity to speak to them in front of an estimated 1.2 million fans who streamed into downtown Cleveland to celebrate. “We’re all together and bonded for life and this is an unbelievable ride that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he said. “The only question that can be ever be said about this team is, what’s next? So, from the bottom of my heart, this is a very special year. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love y’all.”

Irving preceded that verbal love letter by revealing that he had watched The Block on replay more than his own dagger shot. The former was the incredible run-down swat of an Andre Iguodala lay-up by James that would have given Golden State a 91–89 lead with a couple of minutes remaining. After all, Irving stated, The Shot would not have been possible without The Block. Such was not necessarily true, as Irving’s three-pointer would have still given Cleveland the lead, though it would have altered the strategy for the Warriors on their next possession. But Irving painted a bigger picture when he expressed his appreciation for James and his teammates and indicated a curiosity about what the Cavaliers could achieve in the near future. That future included a demanded departure that many believe he would have insisted upon immediately had the timing been right. One does not ask to be traded after winning a championship.

One does, however, drop hints. Irving did so during the finals, when he talked about fading from the spotlight upon the arrival of James. “Having just a tremendously great player like that come to your team, and you see yourself being one of those great players eventually, and then he ends up joining it, and then now you have to almost take a step back and observe,” Irving said.



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