PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers coach and former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups says he believes Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is “the most skilled player” ever to play the point guard position.
“Kyrie is just, he’s a wizard, man,” Billups said before Monday’s game against the Nets. “He’s must-see TV. I personally think, as somebody that played the position, I think Kyrie’s the most skilled player that’s ever played that position. Just straight skill. Nothing else. Just straight skill. I think he’s the best that I’ve ever seen at the position, skill-wise. So, obviously, he gives you a ton when he’s playing.”
Billups’ remarks came in response to a question about just how much different the Nets become when Irving is on the floor. Monday marks just the second game all season that Irving, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, has played in.
Irving, 29, was not with the Nets to start the season because they decided against having a part-time player in the wake of New York City’s vaccination mandate. The organization reversed course last month after a COVID-19 outbreak made its way through the team. Irving returned last Wednesday in a win over the Indiana Pacers, showing flashes of being the dominant offensive force he has always been.
“His shot-making is incredible,” Billups said. “He’s a better passer than people give him credit for. He’s obviously a willing teammate. He’s not just all about Kyrie. He passes the ball. He’s a champion. He brings championship pedigree to the table. I think he hit maybe the biggest shot that I ever seen in NBA Finals history, that I seen.
“So he brings all of those things to you and now without him, what a luxury, you still have two guys [in Kevin Durant and James Harden] that have been the MVP in this game and have carried teams a long, long way. So they do a really good job of playing well together, when they’re all three together, they know how to delegate their roles as good as anybody that I’ve seen. So it’s a very…
Source : espn
