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33. Kyrie Irving

33. Kyrie Irving

This one can be considered a little tricky.

When Kyrie Irving surprisingly requested a trade from Cleveland (to get away from LeBron, let's be honest!), Boston arguably stole him in the deal, considering that the best player that they gave up, Isaiah Thomas, was never the same after that hip injury that took him out during the previous playoffs.  Irving wanted to prove he could lead a powerhouse team, and he did…sort of.

Irving's first season in Boston saw the team emerge as a genuine contender in the East, with the Point Guard going to his fifth All-Star Game and averaging 24.4 Points per Game.  A late-season injury would take him out for the rest of the season, but they were poised for greatness for the following year.

While Kyrie thrived as a Second Team All-Pro Selection, the team didn't gel and was unceremoniously bounced in the 2019 Playoffs.  The team to which Irving once pledged loyalty, he quickly dismissed in free agency for the Brooklyn Nets, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of Celtics fans.

Still, it can’t be argued that Irving put up outstanding numbers in Boston, averaging 24.1 Points and 6.1 Assists per Game with a PER of 24.6.  Very few Celtics ever had two seasons like that.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Point Guard
  • Acquired: Traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jae Crowder, Isaiah Thomas, Ante Zizic, a 2018 1st Round Pick (which would be Colin Sexton) and a 2020 2nd Round Pick, which was added due to Thomas’ injury 8/30/17.
  • Departed: Signed as a Free Agent with the Brooklyn Nets 7/6/19.
  • Games Played: 127
  • Per Game Averages: 32.6 MP
    .562 eFG%
    .881 FT%
    24.1 PTS
    4.4 RB
    6.1 AST
    1.3 STL
    0.4 BLK

    9 Playoff Games
    36.7 MP
    .436 eFG%
    .900 FT%
    21.3 PTS
    4.4 RB
    7.0 AST
    1.3 STL
    0.4 BLK
  • Advanced Stats: 24.6 PER
    .600 TS%
    9.4 VORP
    18.0 WS

    13 Playoff Games
    19.7 PER
    .584 TS%
    0.4 VORP
    0.4 WS
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    All-Star (2018 & 2019)
    Second Team All-NBA (2019)
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