Kyrie Irving is well-respected in the NBA, as he easily has the best handles in the league. Popularly known as Uncle Drew, Irving is an eight-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA Team selection, and an NBA champion.
These days, Irving is preparing for the NBA Finals with the Mavericks taking care of business in the playoffs. But while Irving has found success individually, he wouldn't have done it without some solid teammates. Let's rank Kyrie Irving's 10 greatest teammates.
10. Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons on Kyrie Irving's 19-point 3rd quarter tonight in Toronto:
"Just being Kyrie. That's what we want him to do. Just be himself" pic.twitter.com/0cF5ju7HSL
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 24, 2022
Ben Simmons' arrival in Brooklyn was supposed to be a fresh start for the three-time All-Star. Unfortunately, both Simmons and Irving never really played a lot of games together due to injuries. But when they did see action together, the duo showed some promise by posting an 18-12 record. However, Simmons is still one of the stars that was able to play alongside Irving.
9. Gordon Hayward
Kyrie Irving & Gordon Hayward help lead the @celtics to victory at home! #NBAPreseason pic.twitter.com/lx7S1B2iA4
— NBA (@NBA) October 1, 2018
Speaking of injuries, right from the get-go, Hayward's first game with Irving ended in catastrophe with the All-Star forward fracturing his ankle off an alley-oop play. Since then, Hayward was never the same. Although we saw flashes of what this duo could accomplish together, the Celtics could never make it to the Finals with Irving and Hayward.
8. James Harden
good having you back king @KyrieIrving pic.twitter.com/2AnzC249wY
— James Harden (@JHarden13) January 6, 2022
Prior to Ben Simmons joining the Nets, Brooklyn engaged in a blockbuster trade to first acquire former NBA MVP James Harden. With Harden's acquisition, the 10-time All-Star became Irving's third teammate who has previously won the MVP award.
While Harden's acquisition was welcomed at first, the former MVP's struggles in the postseason wasn't helpful at all. Furthermore, their chemistry wasn't quite polished thanks to the lack of games played together with only 41.
7. Al Horford
Kyrie Irving on Al Horford: “He’s a unique big. He’s able to pick and pop and still be able to post up down low and have the in and out game, so it works really well for our system.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 18, 2017
While Irving was with the Celtics, a fellow veteran that helped him lead the team was All-Star big man Al Horford. Horford's skillset as a modern-day center ultimately elevated the Celtics into a formidable contender in the Eastern Conference. His ability to play inside and out made life a little easier for Irving during his stint in Boston.
6. Jaylen Brown
Back when Irving played for the Celtics, Jaylen Brown was still a rising star trying to find his footing in the NBA. Today, he's one of the Celtics' biggest stars.
Although the Brown and Irving team-up wasn't as productive back in the day, Brown has improved by leaps and bounds today. A lot of that credit should also go to Irving for mentoring the promising Celtics core back in the day.
5. Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum tried quieting Celtics fans while they taunted Kyrie Irving: pic.twitter.com/cXivaJuPUf
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 6, 2022
Aside from Jaylen Brown, the Celtics also invested in a young talented Jayson Tatum when they acquired Kyrie Irving from the Cavaliers. Like Brown, Tatum was still a young star back in the day.




Fast-forward to today, he has emerged as the Celtics' face of the franchise. While we never got to witness how a prime Tatum will work with Irving, it's safe to say that the Celtics are in good hands under Tatum's leadership.
4. Kevin Love
Kevin Love says the Cavs should retire Kyrie Irving’s jersey when it’s all said and done.
Agree? pic.twitter.com/RiHHiYzoMJ
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 27, 2022
Many basketball fans will agree that the Cleveland Cavaliers wouldn't have won the NBA championship without their third star, Kevin Love. Like Horford was for the Celtics, Love had a polished inside and outside game that made life easier for Irving. Moreover, Love's respectable defense and elite rebounding was a huge lift for Irving's conquest of his first NBA title.
3. Kevin Durant
The Nets are prepared to lose both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, per @WindhorstESPN
Brooklyn would rather lose both stars 'than go through what they went through last season’ pic.twitter.com/xetUG4Tk1V
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 27, 2022
When Kevin Durant left the Warriors to team up with Irving in Brooklyn, the news immediately shocked the NBA world. The sky was the limit for the elite scoring duo.
When healthy together, the duo would lead Brooklyn to 54 wins out of 88 games played together. However, off-court issues concerning Irving's vaccine stance, promotion of antisemitic content, and injuries never allowed this duo to showcase their full potential.
2. Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving when asked what they mean to each other:
“Oh, we getting emotional now.” 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/z900KTl49z
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) May 19, 2024
There's no doubt that the Mavericks are in the NBA Finals thanks to the combustible duo of Irving and Luka Doncic. Although many critics have mentioned about the fit of Irving alongside Doncic, the duo has proved everyone wrong after their great playoff campaign thus far.
They eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers before taking care of business against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. They then earned a trip to the NBA Finals after a dominant series against the Timberwolves. Thanks to Doncic, a second NBA championship could be incoming for Irving.
1. LeBron James
The #Cavs went 34-5 in the East Playoffs when LeBron James and Kyrie Irving both played. pic.twitter.com/HCETF7nw5G
— jack (@TheCavsJack) May 5, 2024
Thus far, there has been only one teammate quite like no other for Irving and that was LeBron James. Since James' return to Cleveland, Irving and The King formed an unstoppable duo as they led the Cavs to three-consecutive NBA Finals trips together while dominating the Eastern Conference.
But more importantly, it was this very duo that helped the Cavs win the franchise's first NBA championship at the expense of a 73-9 Warriors despite being down 3-1 in the 2016 NBA Finals.