After winning the MVP of the Basketball World Cup, Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving has been awarded as USA men’s basketball player of the year.
Irving averaged 12.1 points and just over three assists a game including a 26 point performance in the gold medal game vs Serbia.
“Just to be part of the lineage of guys that have come before me to win this award and be a part of that team, the adversity that we faced as a group of guys coming together,” Irving said. “Most people doubted us and said that regardless, Spain or France or one of these other veteran countries are going to win. And we came in there and just used that as motivation. And I was a part of that team, and it’s just something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
Irving’s teammate on the Cavs and former team USA member Lebron James praised Irving on the accomplishment.
“I watched pretty much every game that they played this past summer and Kyrie was definitely the reason why they brought it home,” James said. “Obviously the other guys really played great as well, but Kyrie was the starter on the team.”
As for the game the Cavs played, they downed the Grizzlies 105-91 behind Lebron’s 25 points.
