LeBron James Declares Kyrie Irving the NBA’s “Most Gifted Player Ever,” Drawing Mixed Reactions from Skip Bayless

LA Lakers superstar LeBron James recently made headlines by proclaiming his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, Kyrie Irving, the “most gifted player” the NBA has ever seen. James’ comments came during an episode of his podcast “Mind the Game,” where he reflected on their three-year partnership from 2014 to 2017 and expressed admiration for Irving’s extraordinary skill set.

James reminisced about their time together on the Cavaliers, lamenting that Irving is no longer his running mate, especially after watching Irving lead the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. The four-time MVP praised Irving’s offensive versatility and unique talent, highlighting his ambidextrous shooting ability as something unparalleled in the league.

“He’s the most gifted player the NBA has ever seen,” James stated. “He has the best gifts I’ve ever seen in any NBA player. I’ve never seen a guy in my NBA life that feels better at times shooting with his off-hand than he does with his primary. If Kyrie is off in a game with his right hand, he will literally go exclusively to his left hand. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

.@KingJames talks about the gifts and growth of his former teammate, Kyrie Irving.

Full episode of Mind the Game with @jj_redick drops tomorrow: https://t.co/PKXXT3EcGJ pic.twitter.com/M3uMFATEXE

— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) June 4, 2024

Renowned sports commentator and critic of LeBron James, Skip Bayless, offered his perspective on the superstar’s remarks during his show. Bayless agreed with James to an extent, acknowledging Irving’s exceptional skills relative to his size but adding a notable caveat.

“I’m with LeBron, though with a qualifier: inch for inch, at 6-foot-2, Kyrie is the NBA’s most gifted player ever,” Bayless said. “But the most gifted athlete ever in any sport, making him the greatest all-around athlete ever, was Deion Sanders.”

Despite his relatively modest stature by NBA standards, Kyrie Irving has proven to be an incredibly effective and efficient player, particularly during the 2024 playoffs. Through 17 games, Irving has averaged 22.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.6 three-pointers per game, while shooting an impressive 48.5% from the field.

Irving, alongside his co-star Luka Doncic, has led the fifth-seeded Mavericks (50-32) on an unexpected journey to the NBA Finals. The dynamic duo has combined to average 51.6 points per game, spearheading Dallas’ efforts against top-tier competition. Their next challenge is to topple the league-leading Boston Celtics (64-18).

During the NBA Finals media availability session, Kyrie Irving was asked about LeBron James’ complimentary remarks. Irving expressed his gratitude and reflected on how his relationship with James has evolved over the years.

“I mean, I had a great reaction. It’s appreciated. There’s a lot of gratitude there as well,” Irving said. He went on to acknowledge the growth in their relationship and his own personal development since their time together in Cleveland.

“Obviously, I’m at a different age and in a different place in my life. So is he. I think we both have been able to mature and really appreciate what we got a chance to accomplish,” Irving continued. “I think there were some things that got in the way of our relationship when I was a little bit younger. Now that I’m able to vocalize how I feel as a man, be comfortable in it, stand on my square, my beliefs, and where I’m coming from, I feel like our relationship’s different because of that now.”

James and Irving’s partnership in Cleveland was highly successful, culminating in three consecutive NBA Finals appearances and securing the Cavaliers’ first-ever championship in 2016. Since their split in 2017, Irving has experienced a turbulent career with several highs and lows. However, he now stands on the brink of further cementing his legacy by potentially winning his first title, independent of LeBron James.

From a journalistic perspective, LeBron James’ endorsement of Kyrie Irving underscores the deep respect and recognition among elite athletes, highlighting Irving’s unique skills that set him apart in the league. Skip Bayless’ response adds an interesting dimension to the discussion, acknowledging Irving’s prowess while broadening the context to compare athletes across different sports.

As the Mavericks gear up to face the Celtics, Irving’s performance will undoubtedly be scrutinized, with many eager to see if he can live up to the lofty praise from his former teammate. Regardless of the outcome, the dialogue surrounding Irving’s place among the most gifted players in NBA history will continue to be a compelling narrative for fans and analysts alike.