Kyrie Irving’s tenure in Boston wasn’t the best as there as he was criticized for his leadership and just didn’t click chemistry-wise with the Celtics. Almost everyone expects him to leave in free agency this summer with the Knicks being the popular destination. Irving is from New Jersey and that is also playing a role in why he might come to NY.
Kevin Boyle coached Irving at Saint Patrick High School in Elizabeth, N.J and is predicting that he comes to the Knicks as well, according to Sports Gossip. He added that he hasn’t spoken to Irving about his decision but that’s his own gut feeling.
“I think there’s a good chance in my opinion that Kyrie ends up there,” Boyle said. “In my gut, I would think that would work best for him and I would think that (the Knicks) have a really strong chance of that happening. But I have not spoken directly to him and I don’t know that to be a fact.”
The Knicks also hold the third overall pick in next month’s NBA Draft. NY fans were disappointed in not getting the first pick to get Zion Williamson but there is a good chance they might draft Williamson’s Duke teammate RJ Barrett. Boyle coached Barrett in high school as well and thinks he could possibly fit well with Irving in NY. Irving attended Duke for one season as well.
“He can get up the court, he’s a good slasher, getting ahead of the ball. Hopefully he can blend well with Kyrie and if they bring someone else that follows him, he can really attack the rim and play off of those two other players. That’s vital when you have star players that you’re bringing in. I don’t know if everyone in Boston felt that way with Kyrie. Because they were starting to get established in the NBA, starting to have a lot of success the year before. With RJ, he has a great balance with respect and learning. (He’ll think), ‘Hey, I’m getting better, whether it’s (behind) Kyrie or another guy, it’s their show right now and I’m learning how to play with him or under them until it’s my turn. I think he’ll be receptive to that and I think he’ll be a perfect complement to those guys.”
Boyle also praised Barrett by saying that it shouldn’t be a foregone conclusion that Williamson will be a better pro than Barrett, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
“When people talk about Zion Williamson (as the best NBA prospect in the 2019 Draft), with all the respect he deserves and everything he gets, RJ should be in that conversation. It shouldn’t be a one-person conversation,” Boyle said during an interview with SNY TV.
Despite not being able to get Williamson, the Knicks still have big dreams this summer to sign Irving, Kevin Durant, and possibly acquire Barrett in the draft. They haven’t had good luck in attracting free agents or getting the best draft picks over the past 20 years so we will see if 2019 is finally the year to bring good basketball back to Madison Square Garden. The RJ and Zion debate in the pros should be fun as well heading into the 2019-20 season.
Flip the page for video of Kyrie talking about NYC.