NBA players usually develop their niche game that pave the path for their greatness. That niche makes them almost unguardable at times. Dirk Nowitzki had his post fadeaway jumper, while Tim Duncan had his bank shot. But what is Kyrie Irving?s specialty?
At first glance, one would say it is his ball-handling skills. Now, that wouldn?t be entirely wrong given how Kyrie Irving is an absolute wizard with the ball in his hands. However, his former teammate reveals another thing that makes Kyrie unstoppable.
Kyrie Irving’s secret revealed
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Rarely would anyone argue that Kyrie Irving is one of the best ball-handlers in the league, if not the best. The 2016 NBA champion can coordinate himself in the tightest lanes among defenders without even flinching.
But what makes his handles on the ball even greater is his ability to finish around the rim. Something that most people tend to miss. Irving usually manages to mesmerize viewers already with his crossovers and ball control that they tend to not pay attention to his finishing around the rim.
Recently, Irving’s former teammate Imam Shumpert made an appearance on All The Smoke. Shumpert revealed how the Dallas Mavericks star is almost unstoppable around the rim. While on the podcast, Shumpert said, ?What y?all don?t get to see is him explain to you that he grew up playing on a rim that was missing the pieces on the backboard.?
View this post on Instagram
?So, that?s how he learned those weird angles to twist the ball off of. Because his backboard was missing pieces. So, picture going up to the rim this way and you have no backboard to finish. Now that somebody is on your arm. So he learned how to look forward, spin it to where it could hit the left side, going in on the right.?
Kyrie’s all-around wizardry
From the day he got drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, fans could tell that Kyrie Irving was special. One of his earliest visuals of crazy handles came when he dropped Brandon Knight during the All-Star weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Since then, Irving has been considered one of the best to have the ball in his hands. And to add his layup package along with it makes it all the more impressive.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story: After Mark Cuban’s misunderstanding, Kyrie Irving fanboys over $160 million worth of rapper’s 1964 rendition
There have been many finishes around the rim that have left fans mesmerized. Which one is yours? Let us know in the comments section below.