"No flaws in his game" - Ex-Knicks guard implies guarding $126 million Mavericks guard is more arduous than defending LeBron James

Former NBA player Austin Rivers had high praise for Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. In a clip, uploaded to X by Overtime on Saturday, the ex-New York Knicks guard gave his perspective on what it's like to face Irving and how hard it is to contain him.

Rivers described the challenges of slowing down a player like Irving, who signed a three-year deal worth up to $126 million with Dallas in 2023, because of how he can read a defense and his seemingly endless bag of counters.

"He is the best player I have ever had to guard", said Rivers. "I don't know how to explain that because I know I've played against players that are technically 'ranked' higher than him".

Rivers acknowledges that he's guarded players who are generally considered to be 'greater' in an all-time sense. However, Irving is the most difficult player he's had to go against one-on-one, more difficult than even LeBron James.

"Because like LeBron's not quicker than me, so I mean he would just overpower me with his strength down low in the post. But at the end of the day we would be living with that. If I got LeBron shooting fadeaway two's over me then [I did a good job]."

With Irving, the process of defending him can be more difficult due to the amount of counters he has in his repertoire.

"You get off a screen with Kyrie, Kyrie will just call an iso. Being on an iso with him is like, you know you're looking around like where I got my help out.

Rivers continued, "And he's a guy that can go left, can go right, he can shoot off the dribble three, shoot off the catch three, finish with his left, finish with his right, has hook shots, floaters, post game, post fadeaway, he has no flaws in his game."

Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving passes all-time great in the record books

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is in his 14th season in the NBA. In 32 games so far, Irving has averaged 23.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on over 43% from three.

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks - Source: Imagn

After missing six of the last seven games, Irving suited up as the Mavericks hosted the West's No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. In 39 minutes of action, Irving had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists as the Mavericks picked up the crucial win following three consecutive losses.

Irving's 3-of-8 shooting from three was enough for him to move up to 27th in NBA history for made 3-pointers.

With 1,828th threes, Kyrie passed the late Kobe Bryant on the list. The moment was additionally special as Irving often spoke about how Bryant was a mentor for him.

Irving reached this mark in 585 fewer games. In fact, six of the top 10 and 12 of the top 25 leaders in all-time threes made are active players, a sign of how the game has evolved and the importance of 3-pointers in the modern NBA.