Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving joined Larry Bird, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry as the only four players to average over 25 points per game on 50/40/90 shooting splits, as Irving averaged 26.9 points while shooting 50.6 percent from the floor including 40.2 from three and 92.2 on free-throws.
“Phenomenal season from Kai,” Durant said. “He’s a guy who can get it from anywhere on the floor at any time. At that size, it’s remarkable. Point guards that get 50-40-90 are so much more impressive to me. Small guys that get to the paint from the middy, three, free throw line; they can do it all. I’m very, very happy for Kyrie and I’m sure this won’t be his last time.”
Irving is easily one of the toughest guys to defend in the NBA, as he can take you off the dribble, pull up from anywhere, post you up and finish through contact.
More East Notes
- Russell Westbrook has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for the month of May. Westbrook averaged 26.3 points, 16.1 assists and 13.8 rebounds in nine games, as the Washington Wizards went 5-4 during that stretch.
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Trae Young is the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, as he led the Atlanta Hawks to a 4-0 record with averages of 24.3 points, 8.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game, helping them clinch the fifth seed in the East.
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New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has been named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. The Knicks went 6-3 in May, which helped them lock down the fourth seed in the East.
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Orlando Magic guard R.J. Hampton has been named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, putting up 16.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Hampton has made the most of his opportunities on the rebuilding Magic squad.
