Former Celtic Says Kyrie Irving Would’ve Been Better Than Michael Jordan Under One Condition originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There's no doubt Kyrie Irving is one of the most talented players the NBA has ever seen.
His resume might not show how great a player he actually is due to injuries and other factors, but those who have watched him even a few times can quickly see how special a talent he is.
However, one former Celtic/NBA All-Star had a hot take regarding Irving that might require some explaining and convincing for someone to agree with.
Former Celtic Says Kyrie Irving Would’ve Been Better Than Michael Jordan Under One ConditionFormer All-Star Jeff Teague said on a recent episode of the Club 520 Podcast, "If Kyrie Irving was 6-6...he would have been the best NBA player ever. He would have been better than Michael Jordan."
He then went on to support his claim, saying, “It’s nothing he can’t do. Bro, what could he not do? What can he not do, bro? Name me something he can’t do. He’s not scared of the moment, if he was 6’6”, there's no weakness in his game," (via NBA Courtside).
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Irving is currently listed as 6-2, but Teague thinks if he were 4 inches taller, it would make a drastic difference.
We hear a lot of crazy hypotheticals thrown out, and this is definitely one of them that makes you think.
With how great Jordan was, it's hard to just say that if Irving were taller, he would have been better, but it's interesting to think about how he would be different as a player.
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Maybe he's not the same ball-handler at this size, but more size could have made him a more defense-minded player. One similarity the two players have is being able to hit shots in clutch moments.
Size doesn't affect attitude and competitiveness, though, and Jordan seems to have the upper hand there, which clearly worked out to his advantage during his career.
Irving is not the only player this hypothetical has been tied to, as Steph Curry has often come up in the 'what if he were taller' debate.
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