Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Veteran guard reveals challenges of facing Kyrie Irving

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 8:41 AM ET

Kyrie Irving is arguably the most skilled ball-handler the NBA has ever seen. He's a wizard in isolation, can score from anywhere on the floor and is the first player since Allen Iverson to bring street ball to the NBA hardwood.

Irving is a nine-time All-Star, an NBA champion and a three-time All-NBA selection. It makes sense, then, that opposing guards often dread the nights when they're tasked with trying to stay in front of him on defense.

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell provided a rare insight into the struggles of guarding Irving. His comments came during an appearance on a recent episode of the "Christian Kuntz Podcast."

"You're on an island," McConnell said. "And you just don't know what he's gonna do. You can force him one way, but he still ends up going the way you don't want him to. His handle is impeccable. He's got the greatest handle I've seen. And he can really shoot it, like he's fast. It's just, it's a tough place to be mentally, guarding Kyrie."

Last season, Irving ranked fourth in the NBA in points per isolation possession, among high-usage isolation players with four or more possessions per game. He shot 44.2 percent on 4.5 shots out of isolation per game.

When you have a player as gifted as Irving, who can carve open a defense at will, it makes sense to let them cook when they've got a defender on an island. Yet, what makes Irving such a scary prospect is that he can also score off the catch, making him an off-ball threat, too. He averaged 52.2 percent shooting on 2.3 catch-and-shoot attempts per game last season.

McConnell's comments likely provide a glimpse into how every defender in the NBA feels when matched up with Irving. He's among the greatest offensively-minded guards in league history. It can't be easy trying to shut him down, especially when there's something riding on a game.

Irving has endured his fair share of on-and-off-court drama in recent years. However, he seems to have found a forever home with the Dallas Mavericks. And, if Jason Kidd's team can get fully healthy this season, Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson could make an under-the-radar championship push. That's a discussion for another day, though.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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