“Skills”: Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Praises Kyrie Irving for His NBA All-star Game

Kyrie Irving was just a toddler when Steve Nash made his debut with the Phoenix Suns. Still, the two crossed each other’s path on an NBA court in 2011 when the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted a 19-year-old Kyrie. 

Kyrie represented the Blue Devils in his freshman year and averaged 17.5 ppg at 52.9% from the field. He was also named the Player of the Year as a sophomore. It was almost certain that he was going to become a great NBA player. On the other hand, Steve Nash was on his to become one of the best point guards in the league. So how did it go when they played against one another?

Steve Nash, Kyrie Irving, and the camaraderie…

Both players remain complementary for one another. Very recently, Steve Nash, now the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, posted a video of Ky. 

Steve Nash is yet to coach Kyrie Irving, but the surety is that he is spending his time watching the old tapes. In the 2014 NBA All-star game, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 163-155 where both Kyrie and Kevin Durant played for opposing teams. While KD scored a 38-point double-double, the Ankletaker gave his response with 31 points and 14 assists.

Perhaps that is what compelled the head coach to watch and analyze that video.

The admiration and respect are mutual…

In a 2012 interview, Mr. Overtime gave an interview, where he revealed, “Everybody says, ‘He’s old,’ but you don’t play against somebody that has 90 screen-and-rolls just for him. Just imagine going through 90 screen-and-rolls and they’re just for Steve Nash. He had 16 assists against us. That’s ridiculous. It’s tiring, and I hated it.”

This summed up the kind of admiration Irving carries for the head coach. Given that both he and KD have a positive history with Steve Nash, the Nets are sure to flourish. Kyrie has great foot speed, ball-handling, skill, basketball IQ, and one-on-one dominance. He must now work on the transition plays, and that’s where coach Steve can come in handy.

Do you think this pairing will help the Nets win the 2021 championship?