LeBron James and Kyrie Irving proved themselves as an elite duo, and maybe one of the greatest in history. Irving was drafted by the Cavaliers in 2011 as the first overall pick, while James was in Miami. For his first three seasons, Irving put on a show wearing a Cavs jersey, though the team did not appear in the postseason. In 2014 James made his return to Cleveland, where he would team up with Irving. In their first season playing together, the duo averaged 47 points, as the team would go on to play in the postseason for the first time since 2010.
This was also Irving’s first-ever playoff appearance, where he averaged 19 points a game. On the other hand, a more playoff-experienced James put up 30 points and 11 rebounds. The duo had no problem in the postseason, as they would make it out of the East with just two losses. Though in the Finals, Irving would get injured and won’t make his return, as the Cavs fell to Golden State in 2015. This was an added fuel for the next season.
Did Kyrie Irving and LeBron James win a championship together?
The following season, the duo played with a vengeance, putting up a combined 46 points a game during the regular season, and averaging a dynamic 51 points combined in the postseason. The team ruled the East yet again, though as they entered the Finals, things were not looking so good for them.
Irving and James would trail 1-3 versus the Warriors, with almost no hopes of a comeback. LeBron and Irving would go on a rampage, putting up a combined 66.3 points and 16 rebounds a game over the course of the next three games. The Cavs made history, to what was the greatest comeback in American sports history.
The duo won its first championship, as they geared up for yet another run. Irving had polished his skills ahead of the 2016-17 season. Kyrie would play much better this season, contributing on both ends of the floor. On the other hand, James had a great season as well.
The duo stacked 51 points a game together while making it to the Finals yet again. The duo went past all the teams in the East smoothly. Though they would face the most ferocious superteam of the season, the Warriors who added Kevin Durant to their roster. The Dubs would dominate over the Cavs, closing out the series in just five games.
Altogether, James and Irving averaged 47.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 12.8 assists a game. The duo won a total of 161 games throughout the course of three seasons. Irving would join the Celtics the following season, as James would then lead the Cavs to yet another final, marking his own final season with the franchise. James and Irving’s duo was dynamic, versatile and an agile one of all. As much as fans miss the duo, it’s almost impossible for them to ever team up again.