Kyrie Irving, widely considered one of the best ball handlers of all time, has achieved several milestones throughout his professional career. The eight-time NBA All-Star, who recently announced that he will appear at the WayMaker Men’s Summit, showcased stellar skills in the recent season, helping lead the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA finals. However, a former NBA player is unsatisfied with Irving’s on-court abilities.
During a recent episode of Gil’s Arenas podcast, host Gilbert Arenas boldly compared Irving to Allen Iverson, an 11-time NBA All-Star. The former NBA star referred to Irving as a “snail” when comparing him to Philadelphia 76ers icon Iverson.
“When people talk about Kyrie is unguardable, Kyrie is a snail compared to Allen Iverson. Think about how many combo moves Kyrie has to do to get by somebody. Allen Iverson does [one move] and he’s gone.” Arenas said.
Arenas, nicknamed “Agent Zero” for his late-game shot-making ability, criticized players who believed Irving was unguardable. The three-time NBA All-Star also mentioned that Irving needs multiple move combos to make a shot, while Iverson only needs one move.
Ex-NBA Star Backs Irving, Highlights Fierce Competition Challenges
Irving showcased some amazing talent on the court during the recent season. Alongside star player Luka Doncic, the 32-year-old eliminated some of the league’s dominating teams to enter the NBA finals.
However, his efforts fell short as the team lost to the Boston Celtics in the Finals. In support of Irving, former NBA player Brandon Jennings responded that the Mavericks star faces some of the tallest players as the guards while still making the shots.
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“Did you see the guys that Kyrie has to go against? 6’8, 6’9, 6’10, getting the shot up.” Brandon Jennings said.
“You want me to tell you the problem about guards? You couldn’t touch Allen Iverson, it’s like literally trying to guard at full speed,” Arenas said
According to StatMuse, Irving averaged 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 58 games during the 2023-24 season. Arenas’ statement could spark debate among fans and analysts, so it will be fascinating to see the reactions.
