“He's breaking down the whole team”- Paul George knew that Kyrie Irving was special during his rookie year

Modified Mar 24, 2023 05:55 GMT

Kyrie Irving impressed the 2012 USA Olympic basketball team with his dribbling and shot-making.

Kyrie Irving is considered by many to have the best ball-handling skills in the history of the NBA. Irving’s ability to weave through defenses with yo-yo-like manipulation of the ball is a must-see highlight when he plays.

“Uncle Drew” showed off the same skills as part of the select team that scrimmaged against the Olympic Team that was bound for London in 2012. Paul George, his then-teammate, had this to say about the viral clip where Irving was running through defenses with his dribbling:

"What people don't see from that moment was how tough it was. I don't know if y'all seen that clip where Ky [Irving] was like is doing some special s***. He's breaking down the whole team, putting it behind his legs. Bro that play happened because we could not get the ball past half-court.

“Bron [James], Kob [Bryant], they all like picking it up full court. Melo [Anthony]. They like in our s*** and it was crazy because like Ky took it upon himself. And that was I think his rookie year. Like that was after his rookie season. And we was watching it like, 'Oh, oh!'”

Kyrie Irving was the No. 1 in the 2011 NBA draft and won Rookie of the Year honors in his first season as a pro basketball player. He averaged 18.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5.4 apg and 1.1 spg.

Irving’s titanic burden wasn’t just to live up to expectations of being one of the most talented and skilled players coming into the NBA. He was supposed to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers, a franchise that was reeling from LeBron James’ abandonment.

Irving wasn’t on James’ level as a rookie, but he made believers out of fans. It did help that he was such a treat to watch, particularly with his ball handling and shot-making.

Kyrie Irving didn’t make it to the 2012 Olympics alongside Paul George, but he surely made an impression on the more veteran members of the team.

Kyrie Irving famously challenged Kobe Bryant to a one-on-one matchup

Kyrie Irving’s confidence was sky-high that he didn’t even hesitate to challenge Kobe Bryant, a five-time champion and the face of the NBA.

Paul George later revealed that Irving was “feeling himself” after repeatedly breaking down Team USA’s vaunted full-court press.

Here’s the famous exchange between the two:

Irving: "This isn’t high school kid coming to you, ‘Kobe! Kobe! Oh my god, no no no.’ This is me who challenges you one-on-one. You wanted to right now. 50 grand dollars is nothing.

Bryant: "I know your dad thinks you can’t beat me one-on-one. I know that!

Irving: "You have to guard. You are not able to block me. It’s over!"

Kyrie Irving and Kobe Bryant then shook hands.

The former Cleveland Cavaliers then exclaimed to the cameraman:

“He thinks about talking to a high school kid!”

Bryant could only shake his head, saying:

“Easy money. Easy money!”