There is no doubt that Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving has established himself as one of the premier players in today's NBA. As with most great players, there is always speculation about how their game would have fared back in the league's more physical eras.
Irving's electrifying style of play makes him a seamless fit in the modern-day NBA. However, former NBA point guard Rod Strickland said during an appearance on Scoop B Radio that he would have been just as special in the 90's:
“He would’ve been a problem. I mean just look at the game. He can shoot the ball, he finishes with the bucket in, he can take contact, he has a mid-range, he can pass the ball, get him out in an open court, so he would check all the boxes over there. And he’s physical! So that physical stuff that was going on back in the day, let’s just say, I handled it pretty well and he’s got a lot more stuff than me, as far as maneuvering and getting in the paint and getting by people. I think he would’ve been as special as he is now. I think he’s one of those guys, just because of his skill level and physicality.”
Of course, there may be a bit of bias from Strickland. He was childhood friends with Irving's father, Drederick, and eventually became his son's godfather. However, it is safe to say that there is plenty of truth to Strickland's comments. As a 17-year NBA vet, they certainly carry some weight.
Kyrie Irving is widely considered the best one-on-one scorer in the league thanks to his ability to create for himself and shoot from anywhere on the floor. More importantly, his toughness has never been taken into question, which would have been vital for a player in the 90's.
That said, it is not difficult to imagine him being able to finish over Strickland's era of physical big men. Irving will need that grittiness in order to succeed in the next phase of his career as the team's franchise player.
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