Brooklyn Nets‘ polarizing guard Kyrie Irving is making the headlines now for all good reasons.
After quietly donating $22,000 to pay for a young student to be able to stay at Howard University, Irving kept the good vibes flowing with a game-winner in Toronto.
Irving sank the first game-winning buzzer-beater of his NBA career that completed the Nets’ 119-116 comeback win over the Raptors on Friday night.
But it wasn’t his first cold-blooded, clutch triple. His late three-pointer that helped clinch the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first NBA championship in 2016 still stood at the top of the list of his clutch shots.
Nonetheless, it was much needed for the Nets, who rallied from 18 points down to extend their season-high winning streak to five.
“He’s the best in the world at that right there. You have to salute him.”
Fred Van Vleet on Kyrie Irving’s game-winner
Irving put Van Vleet on the skates before pulling off for the beautiful step-back game-winner.
Now drama-free, the Nets have surged to the top four in the Eastern Conference, winning 11 of 14 games since Irving returned from a team-imposed eight-game suspension due to his controversial tweet of an antisemitic film.
With that issue now in the rearview mirror, all Irving can think about now is helping the Nets in their title aspirations.
Irving shot 13 of 22 from the field but was only 2 for 8 from deep before his game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
“I just want to be great in those [clutch] situations. I have failed more than I succeeded. You can say anything, you can talk about me not hitting shots in the past, but one time you step up and make it, those are the ones you want to be remembered.”
Kyrie Irving postgame via NBA.com
Much like in life, Irving wants to be remembered for the good things he did on and off the court.
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