"Would pass the Heat's test": NBA insider speaks highly of Kyrie Irving's physical conditioning amid narrative changing run

Kyrie Irving has certainly been one of the key cogs of the Dallas Mavericks’ incredible playoff run that saw them take down the fourth-seed LA Clippers, the No. 1-seed OKC Thunder and are now one win away from sweeping the Minnesota Timberwolves. In doing so, Irving has once again made himself the perfect sidekick for a superstar, like Luka Doncic.

For the first time since being swept by the Boston Celtics in 2021, when he was still with the Brooklyn Nets, Irving is averaging 40 minutes per game in the playoffs, attesting to his body of work and quality of play.

In ESPN's "Get Up," veteran NBA insider Brian Windhorst complimented Irving’s conditioning and stamina as he changed his career narrative with the Mavericks.

“He is an absolute peak physical shape. He would pass the Heat’s test right now with the condition that he is in,” said Windhorst.

Windhorst also noted Irving’s leadership and generalship for the Mavericks, emphasizing the calmness and stability he exudes for the team in this deep playoff run. Irving was criticized for lacking those skills with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.

“Now you look at him, he is doing everything a leader does from A to Z,” Windy said. “He has done everything that you would want a star player to do because he has those scars and those failures. We are seeing Kyrie in full bloom here. I hope it lasts because it’s amazing to watch.”

Irving averages 22.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game in the 2024 NBA Playoffs on 49.2% shooting, including 44.0% from the 3-point line.

Having played 15 games so far, this playoff run is the deepest for Irving since 2017, when he reached the NBA Finals alongside LeBron James and Kevin Love with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He was riddled with injuries in his next two seasons with the Boston Celtics, before joining the Brooklyn Nets and teaming up with Kevin Durant and James Harden.

Kyrie Irving said Dallas turned his fortunes around

Kyrie Irving never really got going with the Brooklyn Nets due to a mixture of nagging injuries and off-court issues, highlighted by his refusal to take the vaccine amid New York’s vaccination mandate, which resulted in him missing 35 home games.

In 2022, he was also slapped an eight-game suspension after sharing the link for an antisemitic film on Twitter.

Fast forward today, Irving relishes his resurgence with the Dallas Mavericks, as they lead 3-0 versus the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.

“I feel like it’s a great chapter that’s being written right now, and I’m enjoying every step of the way," Irving said.0(0:00 - 0;02)

"It’s really helped me grow as a human being and find my peace out here. It's good to breathe fresh air and get outside. Seasonal depression is real when you're growing up out north.

"I spent 12 years in the Eastern Conference in three cold cities that deal with four seasons. So, you come out here and you're able to get outside and ground yourself a little bit more and spend some time with your family, watch your kids run outside, wife's happy ... I don't take those things for granted." (0:19 -0:47)

If the Mavericks close out the series in Game 4, Irving will make it to his fourth NBA Finals appearance with a shot to be a two-time champion.