Was Kyrie Irving Fasting During Mavs-Nuggets Blockbuster? Best Ramadan Performances of NBA’s 8x All-Star

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is upon us, with an estimated 1.8 billion Muslims observing its traditions worldwide. With the majority of them focusing on self-restraint, Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving chose a different path: lighting up the court. Like other years, the #7 seed Dallas Mavericks pulled off an incredible upset against the #2 seed Denver Nuggets, and his efficiency on-court despite the long hours of fasting deserves a massive slice of celebratory pie, albeit of course after he breaks the fast!

Despite observing the Ramadan fast, Irving played a whopping 48 minutes and came up clutch in the fourth quarter with a game-winning buzzer-beater.

Fasting during Ramadan requires serious discipline, including abstaining from food and drink for 12-17 hours each day. This can lead to fatigue and dehydration, potentially impacting athletic performance. One of the most crucial of the five pillars of Islam, fasting involves abstinence from all food and liquids (including water) from dawn until sunset. It serves as a reminder to Muslims of those less fortunate and aims at reinforcing the practice of feeling grateful. However, Kyrie Irving has defied expectations, pulling out his talent and stamina throughout the full 40 minutes played against the Nuggets.

This isn’t the only time Irving has fasted and delivered a powerful performance. There’ve been many instances in the past years when he has dominated the court.

Kyrie Irving’s Ramadan Stats

In 2022, Kyrie Irving suggested that it is extremely important for him to display the talents that God has gifted him with, no matter what time of the year it is. This probably explains his clutch performance over the strenuous period of fasting. Despite the challenges, Irving has wowed his fans with scorching performances and classic gameplay.

April 2023

Now a Dallas Maverick, Irving bagged a much-needed 123-119 comeback win over the Sacramento Kings, keeping their playoff dreams alive. A jaw-dropping 19-point performance in the fourth quarter sealed the deal. In total, he finished with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 6 3-pointers on a 52.2/60.0/100.0 shooting split in 43 minutes.

April 2022

Back with the Nets, Irving put on a show during Ramadan with a mind-blowing 34-point, 12-assist performance, helping them push for the playoffs. This feat earned him a special title, the first player since LeBron James in 2020 to score 30 points, dish out 10 assists, and shoot 80% from the field.

April 2021

It was this year that Kyrie Irving converted to Islam. At the time, he was playing for the Brooklyn Nets. Dawud Walid, a Muslim Activist made the announcement of his conversion on social media. While with the Brooklyn Nets back in 2021, Irving mentioned observing Ramadan, which meant some pre-game routine adjustments. He mentioned this “adjustment” after dropping a double-double (15 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds, 4 steals) in a win against the Boston Celtics. Irving attributed his success against the Boston Celtics to his new faith in the post-game conference.

Despite the fasting and affected consistency, Kyrie Irving feels his faith is his motivator. The fact that he manages to maintain his peak performance is truly spectacular. In 2022 he said, “I am not alone in this.” Kyrie continued, “I have brothers and sisters all around the world that are fasting with me. We hold our prayers and meditations very sacred and when you come out here, I mean, God’s inside me, God’s inside you, God’s inside all of us. So, I am walking with faith and that’s all that matters.”

Read More: Why Did Sports Stars Like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Kyrie Irving Convert to Islam? Did Gervonta Davis Follow the Same Path and Embrace Islam