Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd recently delved into the strategic placement of star point guard Kyrie Irving at the shooting guard position and the parallels to his own experience as a playmaking shooting guard during his tenure with the New York Knicks.
Kidd spoke with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Bovada, humorously dismissing the comparison, stating, “I wish that was a fair comparison, but I was old!”
He went on to highlight Irving’s versatile skill set, emphasizing his scoring prowess, ability to finish in the paint, and his innate understanding of playing the game the right way.
Kidd reminisced about his time as a Knick playing the 2-guard spot, acknowledging the nine-year gap between his era and Irving’s current role.
Despite the differences, Kidd highlighted the joy Irving brings to the game, describing how he appreciates the flow, continuity, and unselfish play that Irving encourages on the court.
“He knows how to play the right way, he likes the flow, he wants the ball to move; he wants continuity and so he makes it a lot of fun to play with him because everyone’s live and I think that’s what they enjoy when they’re out there with Ky. They enjoy playing that way,” Kidd said.
This season, Irving has been a force for the Mavericks, averaging 22.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in just over 32 minutes per game.
