Kyrie Irving hails former Washington Wizards star’s draft legacy as one that won’t be repeated

Irving pointed to Wall as someone who set new NBA standards as the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft. He believes the “Optimus Dime” paved the way for the 2011 draft, when the Mavericks’ point guard went first overall.

“Let me give John Wall his flowers. He set the precedent being the No.1 pick, being a point guard, being everything that you could want and being an exciting guard in the NBA.

“Both of us came onto the scene later on in the rankings.”

It was a break from the norm at a time when big men were still preferred. The back-to-back selection of point guards marked a notable departure from what was normal practice at the time.

‘I don’t think we’ll see that again’, says Irving

Since then, the NBA has shifted again – today the focus is back on dominant big men, while lead ball handlers have taken on entirely different roles.

This is a point that John Wall made on the ‘Run Your Race’ podcast recently. Irving, still widely considered one of the league’s elite guards, was quick to credit Wall for how their paths shaped that era of the draft. He also said he doesn’t believe this will happen again.

“For us to go back-to-back was generational. … Two point guards going back-to-back No.1 picks, I don’t think we’ll see that again in the best league in the world.

“So many great matchups against him, so many great moments of just us being ultra competitive because our towns, the hood back at home, was talking about who was better between us two. It made me who I am today.”