In the world of sports, there have always been conversations about who the greatest athlete of all time is and why they deserve our respect.
Personally, I am not just looking at athleticism or championships when having these conversations. For me, the things they do on or off the court or field are just as important as championships and athletic ability.
I started thinking a lot more about this idea after the Miami Heat’s center, Bam Adebayo, recorded 83 points, becoming the second player with the highest points in a single game, which was previously held by the late Kobe Bryant.
The discourse I saw online regarding this milestone of an achievement that Adebayo had just achieved was already being met with belittling statements, saying the performance was shameless or that he should have been taken out of the game out of respect for Bryant.
While I can understand this argument, because Bryant did so much for the game of basketball that it would only seem right to keep his legacy cemented as one of the greatest to ever do it. At the same time, many people put him on such a high pedestal without even taking into consideration some of the heinous things he has been accused of.
People who deserve our respect typically should have a good character, which I think most people would agree on.
One person that I always bring up when asked who the GOAT is is Kyrie Irving. Irving is a player I grew up watching and have always loved his game, even though he hasn’t played for the Detroit Pistons.
Most basketball fans would agree that Irving’s game is special. His tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he was drafted number one overall by and where he spent six seasons, speaks volumes to how phenomenal an athlete he is.
Most NBA fans know how special Irving is. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest ball handlers of all time and one of the most prominent scorers when it comes to finishing under the rim.
Irving also won rookie of the year in 2012 and has made so many games iconic with his ability to turn around a tight game when necessary. A recent example was his performance during the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers (Sorry, Connor). He went from shooting 1-6 in the first half, only scoring two points, and finished the game with 30.
I could talk about how much I love watching Irving’s game all day and try to justify how great he is but that is what the highlight tape is for.
One of the main reasons I love Irving is how he has portrayed himself since he first stepped into the league. He has never claimed to be perfect or claimed that he is better than anyone else.
Even when there were moments of uncertainty or conflict about his character, he did his best to remain calm and was able to admit he was in the wrong and had made a mistake.
Though there may have been some stubbornness with this initially, he took the necessary steps to show people he was remorseful, acknowledging that he was wrong for sharing such hurtful information, despite not trying to directly promote those ideas.
Obviously, I do not agree with the hateful misinformation he had put out there at the time and agree with the criticism and backlash he received. The reasons I have considered Irving to be one of my role models for some time are his views on mental health and how he has actively advocated for seeking help and healing effectively and positively.
Irvings openness about emotions and how it is normal for everyone to feel things, despite how it differenly they come off from person to person. He shared a message along the lines of when we feel, it may look different but it is actually one of the biggest commonalities between humans.
These athletes already have so much pressure on them as they are at the forefront of the media, while also trying to compete at the highest level in their respective sports. They are constantly facing scrutiny from others, all while trying to navigate their own emotions and life.
During a post-game press conference, while Irving was still with the Brooklyn Nets, he was asked by a reporter if he was motivated to change any of the perceptions people have of him and he responded with a message that has stuck with me since I initially heard it.
“That’s another route of human struggle, worrying about other people’s perceptions of who you are,” Irving said. “Why would you ever care about that, you know? I think I fell victim to that in my past, of worrying about things that I can’t control … Human beings have mood swings … it’s okay to be human. I don’t have to be perfect for anyone here, nor do I have to be perfect for the public. So I’m not here to dispel any perception, I’m just here to be myself.”
This has been a clip I revisit quite often because of how impactful it really is. When I hear the stars and faces of the league advocating for self-growth and mental health, I can’t help but question who we really should be looking up to: those who make an impact on the court, or those who strive to do their best off of it?
Of course, some players have made a bigger impact on the game and have solidified their legacies in other ways.
I admire Irving for putting forward the message to control what you can control and that it is okay to feel, even if it doesn’t fit the perceptions that people have of you.