NBA Draft: Ranking the last 25 first overall picks

No player has had bigger shoes to fill when entering the NBA than Kyrie Irving when he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011. One season after LeBron James left for the Miami Heat, Irving was chosen to take be the face of the Cleveland’s future. It was certainly a lot to ask, but Irving had a ton of talent after a promising career at Duke.

In his first few seasons, despite a struggling team performance, Irving established himself as one of the best ballhandlers in the league. Not only could Irving create his own shots, but he could make them consistently. However, it was clear he needed help to make Cleveland a strong title contender. Re-enter LeBron James.

After James’ stint in Miami, “The King” would return and help guide the Cavaliers to the 2015 NBA Finals and a championship ring the following season in 2016.

While James got all the credit for the Cavaliers’ success, it was Irving’s clutch shot at the end of Game 7 that would secure the NBA Championship over the juggernaut Golden State Warriors. He would spend one more season in Cleveland before heading to the Boston Celtics to prove his worth as the leader of a title contender.

It has been two seasons since Irving joined the Celtics, and it has been a rather inconsistent stint to say the least. Nothing is set in stone, but reports are that Irving will be looking to team up with another superstar in order to chase another ring. While Irving may not be the leader he was hoping to be, his skills can be invaluable to a team’s future title run.

Career averages: 22.2 points, 5.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals per game