10 under-the-radar facts about Birthday Boy Kyrie Irving

#6 He was selected #1 overall despite playing only 11 games for Duke

Kyrie Irving at Duke

Irving committed to play for the Duke Blue Devils in college at the start of his senior year under the tutelage of famed Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski. He got off to a bright start in his Duke career, playing 8 games and starting in 7 of them, while averaging 17.4 points per game on 53.2% shooting, 5.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

Disaster struck, however, as in a game against Butler University (who were then coached by future Celtics head coach Brad Stevens), Irving injured his big toe and sat out the majority of the season. While he did appear in 3 games later on in the NCAA tournament, the Blue Devils were knocked out by the Arizona Wildcats.

Scouts, however, noted his ability to score at high volume with great efficiency, and the Cavaliers selected him #1 overall after Irving declared for the NBA draft.