Kyrie Irving’s Injury from a Warriors Fan’s Perspective

It’s not supposed to be like this.

The NBA Finals should not be like this. The young career of a 23 year old star should not be like this. None of it should be like this. But alas, here we are. In the wake of one of the most exciting Game 1s in recent memory, the basketball gods have taken another casualty.

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Kyrie Irving is going to miss the rest of the NBA Finals and it sucks. There’s no other way to say it. It just sucks. As a Warriors fan, I understand how this increases Golden State’s chances of securing a championship. As a Warriors fan, I also understand how this feels. As a basketball fan, I’m heartbroken.

When my phone buzzed with the ESPN update that Irving has a fractured kneecap and he would undergo surgery, I didn’t know what to do with myself. There was no joy that the Cavs’ second best player would be out. I was speechless. I couldn’t formulate a complete thought–a piece of one here and another one there and it all ended up coming out as “wow.” I saw the bright lights of a great, star-studded series get dimmer.

I’ll admit, I’ve been extremely critical of Irving over the last several years–he doesn’t pass enough, he doesn’t play defense, he doesn’t do this, he doesn’t have that. But there’s no denying that Irving is talented. He can shoot with the best of them, he has a handle that’s, arguably, the best in the league, and he can finish amongst the trees in the paint. And yeah, some criticisms of Irving’s game are valid, but it’s important to remember that he played 11 games in college and is just 23 years old. Kyrie Irving is extremely gifted.

We’ve seen too many point guards go down. From Derrick Rose to Russell Westbrook, it’s awful seeing all-world talents being slowed down by injuries. As a basketball fan, it sucks to see Irving fall. He played through his previous injuries and played well. He was in the midst of what looked like one of his best defensive games ever. The Stephen Curry/Kyrie Irving matchup was everything we wanted it to be up to the final seconds of regulation when the former-Blue Devil blocked what would have been a game-winning Curry layup. Who doesn’t want to see an NBA Finals game being played with each team’s best players out on the floor?

June 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) falls to the floor while being defended by Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the overtime period in game one of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

I wanted him to be able to bounce back for Game 2. I wanted the All-Star guards matchup. I wanted Kyrie Irving healthy and on the floor for the Cavaliers. Not just because victory feels better when you beat the opponents’ best (because it does), but because I wanted great basketball. I wanted Klay Thompson sinking a three then Kyrie Irving matching seconds later. We all wanted that. Or at least we should have.

Warriors fans definitely should have because they know how this feels. Albeit on a smaller stage, we’ve been here before. Before the celebrations and confetti, there were questions and MRIs. Before the records, there were surgeries. Once upon a time, the Warriors’ young, promising point guard was plagued with injuries. There was a time when the reigning MVP couldn’t even run without twisting his ankle. There was a time where it looked like he would never be able to stay on the court long enough to become half the player he’s become. And look at him now.

To the city of Cleveland, I’m sorry. As a Warriors fan, I know disappointment. We all do

Forget the minutes load; that’s a different conversation for another time. This is about the player. Ironically, Irving should look to the opposing locker room for inspiration. Irving should look to Stephen Curry. Dealing with recurring injuries and everything that goes along with it is both physically and mentally taxing. Granted, Curry wasn’t in the NBA Finals when he went his ankle failed him. However, his perseverance is even more admirable because of that. It’s hard to find a silver lining when your team is awful, but Curry did and he bounced back in a major way.

Jan 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) dribbles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Irving can’t let the knee injuries define and haunt him regardless of the Finals’ outcome. He can’t be scared to return like Rose was, but he can’t be as reckless as Westbrook or Kevin Durant in returning too soon. If there’s one positive for Cavaliers fans, and there are close to none surrounding Irving’s knee, it’s that he can’t come back too soon. He won’t have a struggling team that needs his presence and talents to survive in the middle of the year. He’ll have the offseason to strengthen that knee and regain that killer quickness.

Irving’s dealt with serious injuries since his lone season at Duke. I won’t say he’s injury prone or unlucky. But I will say that it’s unfortunate. It truly is.

Warriors fans should not celebrate Irving’s injury. It’s never right to cheer when an athlete goes down and it’s even worse when the stakes are this high, the injury is so serious, and the player is so young and gifted. Instead, celebrate Curry’s rise. Instead, appreciate the magnitude of Irving’s impact that will be immediately be felt. This injury won’t and shouldn’t take anything away from any possible Golden State celebration. Winning a title is always hard and the Dubs have been the best team in the league all season. But it’s sad that Irving won’t be able to compete for the ultimate goal.

To the city of Cleveland, I’m sorry. As a Warriors fan, I know disappointment. We all do.

To Cavaliers fans, I feel for you. I really do. I can’t imagine what it feels like, but I do have a pretty good idea. This narrative took place in the Bay Area just a few years ago.

The same frustration that Irving exhibited in the tunnel by throwing his jersey is the same frustration Curry showed after another ankle sprain when he slammed his hand on chairs after hobbling to the bench. Irving has a special skill set and can only get better. He will get better. Irving is young enough and talented enough to help lead the Cavs back to this position next year in that conference.

It’s not over–far from it, actually–but this obviously makes it harder for Cleveland. But here’s my attempt to console the fan base of the only thing that stands between my favorite team and a championship: Irving will be back. With the way the East is set up, the Cavs will probably make the Finals again next year.

And lastly, the series is only 1-0 and you still have that LeBron James guy.