Kyrie Irving’s scoring prowess has earned him a reputation as one of the NBA’s premier ball handlers and finishers at the basket. Recently, former NBA player Iman Shumpert, who played alongside Irving during their time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, shared insights into what makes the Mavericks superstar’s scoring ability so exceptional.
During an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast, Shumpert revealed an intriguing aspect of Irving’s early basketball upbringing.
“He grew up playing on a rim that was missing pieces on the backboard. That’s how he learned those weird angles to twist the ball off of because his backboard was missing pieces,” Shumpert said.
The unique training ground of a makeshift basketball hoop with missing backboard pieces may have inadvertently honed Irving’s skills, allowing him to develop an uncanny ability to finish at the basket from unusual angles. This particular aspect of his formative years might be one of the factors contributing to his extraordinary scoring arsenal.
As a result of this unorthodox practice environment, Irving has mastered the art of contorting his shots in ways that baffle defenders and leave fans in awe. Whether it’s finishing layups with finesse or executing acrobatic shots around defenders, the 31-year-old point guard’s scoring ability remains unparalleled.
