Peyton Watson is nothing but a bundle of energy on the court. This third-year Denver Nuggets guard can be found coming off the bench and pressing the gas at crucial moments. In the Friday night NBA Cup game against the Dallas Mavericks, it wasn’t any different. However, after the game, Watson showcased a lighter and much more relaxed side of his character. Despite the stinging loss over the Mavs, the rising star gave his flowers to Kyrie Irving, citing a wholesome memory.

After the 123-120 loss, Watson addressed the press on behalf of the Nuggets. In the last few games, the 22-year-old has picked up a spot in the starting lineup, replacing the injured Aaron Gordon. The rising star received an autographed jersey from Kai, which they swapped after the game.

A reporter, cashing on the moment, asked, “What does Kyrie mean to you?” In response, Peyton Watson, without any second thought, said, “He means a lot to me. I mean just basketball memories in general. Being a fan of him and LeBron in Cleveland.” Following that, he went on to speak about his special memory from high school, saying, “Coming up in high school, I got a chance to work out with him and KD.” 

He further added, “They had invited me out to work out when I was 16 years old during the pandemic and it was like Christmas came early man. It really meant a lot to me, especially that they believed in me and that they were telling me that I could get to that level one day so it means the world to me I really look up to Kyrie.”

Watson’s journey seemed to have come to an early full circle, as he grew up fanboying over Kyrie Irving to swapping jerseys with him. Truly a moment to live for!

Did Peyton Watson impress Kyrie Irving & Co. during high school?

“When I got there, I came to play ball and show what I could do. Showcase my talent… didn’t want to be one of those guys who just was happy to be there. I went out there and was challenging people. I was scoring.” This was Peyton Watson’s take on his teenage challenge against KD and Kyrie.

The former Brooklyn Nets duo and several players had invited the high school ballers to the West Los Angeles gym for a game. Watson, who was clear in his mind to stand out among his peers, did exactly what he had planned to do. The starlet even went on to beat Irving in a one-on-one battle.

And, this is what Uncle Drew had to say about their match-ups, “I will admit that he scored on me a few times… We were going at it. That was kind of my telltale sign that he was gonna be a good player in this league for a long time.” Well, Kyrie wasn’t lying.

Several months later, Peyton found himself on a championship-winning team. Not only that, he has built a reputation for himself as an aggressive defender and agile shot blocker. Notably, he dropped a game-winning block on Shai-Gilgeous Alexander in their recent encounter after missing two clutch free throws. A few years down the line, we may come across a superstar.