Kyrie Andrew Irving (/ˈkaɪri/; born March 23, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was named NBA Rookie of the Year after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. A five-time NBA All-Star, Irving was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 2015. He won an NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.
Irving played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before joining the Cavaliers in 2011. He was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2014. In the 2016 NBA Finals, he made a three-point field goal with 53 seconds remaining in a tied Game 7 to help lead the Cavaliers to a championship over the Golden State Warriors. After losing a rematch against the Warriors in the 2017 Finals, Irving requested a trade, and was traded to the Boston Celtics. He has also played for the United States national team, with which he won gold at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2018, he starred in the film Uncle Drew.
Early life
Irving was born on March 23, 1992 in Melbourne, Australia, to American parents.[1] He is the son of Drederick and Elizabeth Irving, and the stepson of Shetellia Irving.[2] He has an older sister, Asia, and a younger sister, London. His father, Drederick, played college basketball at Boston University alongside Shawn Teague and under coach Rick Pitino.[3] After completing his college career, Irving’s father moved to Australia to play professionally for the Bulleen Boomers in the SEABL.[4] Irving lived in the Melbourne suburb of Kew before relocating to the United States when he was two years old.[5][6] He holds dual American and Australian citizenship.[5][7] His mother, who was half Sioux, died of an illness when he was four, and Drederick raised him with the help of Irving’s aunts.[6][8][9]
Irving grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, where he often went to his father’s adult-league games.[10][6] His inspiration to play in the NBA came after playing at Continental Airlines Arena during a school trip in fourth grade, when he said, “I will play in the NBA, I promise.”[6] As a result of his father’s connection to Boston University, Irving spent a lot of time in Boston, including at BU’s basketball skills camp. In fifth grade, he was offered a scholarship to Boston University by then-head coach Dennis Wolff.[11] As a teenager, Irving played for the Road Runners of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).
High school career
Irving played for Montclair Kimberley Academy in his freshman and sophomore years in high school. He averaged 26.5 points, 10.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 steals and became only the school’s second 1,000 point scorer. In his sophomore year, he led MKA to its first New Jersey Prep ‘B’ state title.[12][14] After that year, he transferred to St. Patrick High School because he felt he needed a bigger challenge.[12] He had to sit out the first 30 days of St. Patrick’s season due to the transfer.[14] At St. Patrick, Irving played with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was widely regarded as one of the best players in the class of 2011.[15][16] In his first season, Irving averaged 17.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 6.0 apg. and 2.0 spg, and led the team to its third New Jersey Tournament of Champions title in four years. In August 2009, he led the USA East to the tournament title in the Nike Global Challenge. He was the MVP with 21.3 ppg. and 4.3 apg.[13] The next year, St. Patrick was banned from the state tournament for holding practice prior to the permitted start of the winter sports season.[13][17] St. Patrick went 24-3 and won the Union County Tournament championship as he finished his senior year with 24.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg. and 7.0 apg.[13]
On January 19, 2010, Irving was selected to the 2010 Junior National Select Team. The team played at the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, on April 10.[13][18] He was also selected to play in the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game and the 2010 Jordan Brand Classic, where he was named co-MVP with Harrison Barnes.[19][20] In June 2010, Irving was a part of the United States gold medal winning team at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship.[21]
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