Kyrie Irving is one of the most popular NBA players on the Dallas Mavericks’ roster. Irving is also arguably one of the most controversial players in the league and sports leagues in general. However, Irving is an NBA veteran all basketball fans should pay attention to on and off the basketball court and not just Dallas Mavericks fans.
Kyrie Irving, a former No. 1 pick out of Duke in the 2011 NBA Draft, was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on March 23, 1992. Irving, 32, is arguably one of the best ball handlers of all time. The superstar shooting and point guard has been playing for the Dallas Mavericks since 2023, and previously played for the Brooklyn Nets from 2019 to 2023, the Boston Celtics from 2017 to 2019, and the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2011 to 2017. The superstar guard has done well for himself in his professional basketball career so far.
Here’s what you need to know about Kyrie Irving.
Dallas Mavericks Veteran’s Australian Roots
As I’ve mentioned in the introduction, Kyrie Irving was born in Melbourne, Australia, and raised in West Orange, New Jersey. Kyrie’s parents are American expatriates, Drederick and Elizabeth Irving (nee Larson), with Drederick being a former NCAA basketball player who played college basketball at Boston University alongside Shawn Teague. Drederick opted to move to Australia after his college basketball career to play for the South East Basketball League’s Bulleen Boomers.
Kyrie Irving’s inspiration to play in the NBA reportedly occurred after playing in a basketball game at the Continental Airlines Arena (now Meadowlands Arena) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during a field trip in the fourth grade. Irving reportedly declared, “I will play in the NBA, I promise.”
Kyrie Irving played for the Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, N.J., before playing for St. Patrick High School (now The Patrick School) in Elizabeth, N.J. for his high school basketball career.
Dallas Mavericks Veteran’s Four NBA Teams So Far
Kyrie Irving might’ve taken the journeyman path in his NBA career so far, but there’s nothing wrong with that, despite the jokes some NBA fans made about Irving’s off-the-court issues and outrageous comments, theories, etc., over the years. The jokes are inevitable on #BasketballTwitter and some of them were really funny, to be completely honest. Sometimes, NBA players have to go from team to team to find a place they can call home.
On February 6, 2023, the Brooklyn Nets traded Kyrie Irving and journeyman forward, Markieff Morris, to the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster trade in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and two second-round picks in 2027 and 2029. Irving made his Mavericks debut on March 2, 2023, and recorded 24 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the Dallas Mavericks’ 110-104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s safe to say Irving’s still a good, if not great, player with his improved play with or without Luka Doncic.
Kyrie Irving’s Philanthropy Over The Years
Kyrie Irving has come a long way since winning the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year award after the 2011-12 NBA season, and scoring 34 points and going eight-for-eight from the three-point range as a member of Team Chuck in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge. Irving made his first NBA All-Star appearance in 2012-13, earned his first NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2013-14, advanced to his first NBA Finals in 2014-15, and won his first NBA championship in 2016. Now he is hunting another ring with the Dallas Mavericks.
Aside from the usual basketball business, Kyrie Irving’s philanthropy shouldn’t be forgotten. Like the rest of us, Irving has another side that deserves attention. Irving’s generosity has been extensive, such as his $110,000 donation to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to support the reservation’s drug abuse prevention and youth programs in 2018 and his $233,000 donation to Feeding America during the COVID-19 pandemic while partnering with City Harvest to distribute 250,000 meals in the New York area.
He also purchase a house for the family of George Floyd — which was ultimately confirmed by Stephen Jackson, a former NBA player who was close friends with Floyd, in 2021, donated $500,000 to GoFundMe in 2022, and he had a $50,000 donation to Mari Copley, also known as Little Miss Flint, an activist working to provide clean drinking water to the residents of Flint, Michigan. Whether you agree with him or not, Irving has done a lot of great things over the years.
About the Author
Ana is an accomplished journalist with various credentials in writing, reporting, and broadcasting. With a diverse background and a bachelor’s degree in communications from San Jose State University, Ana can deliver the news in a timely manner and share her opinions with confidence. Her other articles can be found here.
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