Kyrie Irving Picks Kevin Durant Over LeBron James And Luka Doncic As Best Teammate Ever
Kyrie Irving has played alongside some of the most talented players in NBA history, yet when asked to name the best teammate he has ever had, his answer was swift and emphatic: Kevin Durant. Speaking on his stream, Irving delivered high praise for the Houston Rockets star, saying:
"I will say this the 7-eleven duo of me and KD will never be topped in terms of just being on a court with somebody that special, right? So let me get that disclaimer out. All right, let me get that disclaimer."
"I've played with a lot of great players, but playing with KD, it was OD. All right, he's one of the best of all time. Obviously, we all have our strengths and weaknesses."
The comment is striking not only for the level of reverence Irving shows for Durant but also for the notable names it leaves out. Irving spent three memorable seasons with LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers, a partnership that produced the 2016 NBA championship and one of the greatest comebacks in Finals history.
LeBron and Kyrie's time together was defined by high drama and high stakes, culminating in the now-iconic Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Their chemistry, particularly in clutch moments, became a defining image of that championship run.
Irving also shared the court with Luka Doncic in Dallas, where the duo reached the NBA Finals in 2024. While their partnership was relatively short-lived, it brought a blend of offensive creativity and big-game moments that energized Mavericks fans.
Luka's ball dominance and Kyrie's off-ball scoring ability complemented each other well, though the pairing ultimately fell short of delivering a championship. Injuries, inconsistent supporting casts, and stiff competition stood in their way.
By contrast, Irving's time with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn was a rollercoaster of expectations, adversity, and ultimately underachievement. The two were meant to headline one of the most dangerous scoring tandems in league history, but off-court controversies, health issues, and roster instability prevented them from advancing past the second round of the playoffs.
Still, Irving's comments suggest that the on-court magic they shared left a lasting impression that even championship runs with LeBron or a Finals berth with Luka couldn't surpass.
From a pure basketball perspective, Irving's praise makes sense. Durant's combination of size, shooting touch, and scoring versatility is virtually unmatched in NBA history. Playing alongside a player who can score from anywhere, against any defender, while drawing constant double teams, likely gave Irving a level of freedom and efficiency he didn't experience to the same extent with other stars.
Even if their time together failed to produce postseason glory, the artistry and ease of their on-court synergy clearly resonated with him.
For fans, the remark will inevitably stir debates about what defines a 'best teammate', is it winning titles, personal chemistry, or pure talent? For Kyrie Irving, the answer appears to be the latter.
While LeBron and Luka helped him achieve more team success, it was Durant's unique blend of skill and presence that earned the top spot in his mind. And in typical Kyrie fashion, the choice will likely keep NBA circles buzzing for weeks to come.This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys Training Camp: Takeaways from Practice 14, Oxnard is Over, update on Diggs injury
The Dallas Cowboys have concluded their final West Coast practice of the 2025 calendar, and they are set to pack up and return to Texas in advance of their second preseason game. The Baltimore Ravens will meet them in Arlington for a Saturday night matchup, but aside from a walkthrough and some media availability on Thursday, it's a wrap on yet another four-week stint on Oxnard, CA. Wednesday's practice was highlighted by a sensational interception by a defensive lineman, giving some hints as far as what can be expected once the games count, as the Cowboys' new coaching staff continues to commit to the hide-and-no-seek mantra when it comes to what they'll reveal during the exhibition season. Here are the biggest takeaways from the final training camp practice of 2025. Sam Williams' Pick-6 Late in practice, working on goal-line situations, Dak Prescott was intercepted by defensive end Sam Williams. Williams returned the interception the entire length of the field for a Practice Pick-6. That's Dante Fowler (13) lined up wide of right tackle Terence Steele. Rookie DE Donovan Ezeiruaku (41) is standing up in the C gap and DT Solomon Thomas in the A gap. On the OL's left side, that's Mazi Smith (58) and Marshawn Kneeland (94) taking on the LG and LT, with Kenneth Murray (59) and finally Williams (54). Running Back Depth Chart According to Dallas News' Calvin Watkins, the running back pecking order seems to be settling in. Vaughn got first-team reps again. But as camp is on the cusp of closing, it seems Javonte Williams has the lead as the Week 1 starter at running back. The backup is between Hunter Luepke, Jaydon Blue and Miles Sanders. Injury Updates LT Tyler Guyton (broken knee) began working on the resistance cords on Wednesday, per ESPN's Todd Archer RB Miles Sanders (knee) returned to team drills DE Payton Turner (ribs) returned to practice RB Jaydon Blue still isn't practicing with his knee/ankle issue Trevon Diggs has ramped up to daily sessions with trainer Britt Brown, also doing ball drills Steal of the draft? The Cowboys double-dipped at running back in the spring, taking two on Day 3 in fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue and seventh-round pick Phil Mafah. Mickey Spagnola had an interesting tidbit on Wednesday that may help explain how a battering ram like Mafah fell that far despite having back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Clemson. In an extremely deep running back class, Mafah played his final year in college with a torn labrum, and wasn't able to work out for teams in the pre-draft process. There's an assumption the Cowboys are going to carry both veteran RBs they signed this summer, but that may not be the case. MIcah Check Still no update on renewed contract talks between Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons, both who brushed off questions about progress or trade talk. This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Training Camp: Takeaways from Practice 14, Oxnard is Over
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Royals Rumblings – News for August 14, 2025
While they still won the series, the Royals felt they let the sweep get away from them: 'Every game is critical, obviously,' Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel said. 'We are at that time of the year. We are hoping to get hot and win a lot of games. It's a big homestand coming up and we just gotta keep rolling.' The Royals fell short in an 8-7 loss to the Nationals on Wednesday, sliding another half-game behind the Yankees in the wild-card chase. For KC (60-61), the deficit could grow further, as the Yankees faced the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night. 'We had a really nice opportunity today to come out and start this homestand with a sweep …' Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. 'At the end of the day, we won the series. So that's a net positive. Just stings a little bit when the game goes like that to finish out the series.' With Michael Lorenzen returning from injury, the Royals are reshuffling their pitching staff: 'Just trying to put the best rotation out there right now and also give us the best chance to match up out of the 'pen and give us a little depth,' Quatraro said of Falter's transition to the bullpen. Bergert and Falter were two of the pitchers the Royals acquired at the Trade Deadline, with Bergert (and righty Stephen Kolek, who is in Triple-A) coming from the Padres and Falter from the Pirates. Both immediately slotted into the Royals' rotation because of the three starters on the injured list at the time in Lorenzen, Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic. Kevin O'Brien at the Royals Reporter looks at Kansas City's baserunning woes struggles this season compared to last: The most significant difference from this season's squad is Maikel, who created 7.6 total baserunning runs last year. That is an 8.3-run difference from 2025, which demonstrates how far Garcia has slid on the basepaths, a primary strength of his in 2024. The Venezuelan infielder was not just good at gaining extra bases on hits (2.6 run value), but he was sensational on stolen bases. His 5.1 stolen base run value was not only the best mark on the team, but it was 1.4 runs better than Dairon Blanco, who had the second-best mark, and 4.5 runs better than Witt, who had the third-best mark. Salvador Perez and other catchers dished on the physical grind of the position: To Langeliers, for example, the worst place to be hit is the top of the knee, just above the edge of the shin guard. Hearing his fellow catcher's testimony, Perez rolled up his right pant leg to reveal a large, dark bruise in the middle of a tattoo on his thigh. 'I got one,' Perez proclaimed. He'd suffered it two days earlier, and although the pain had faded, the mark remained from an impact that Huff likened to taking a punch — without consent or preparation. In defiance of his father, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is swinging significantly less this season. The Pohlads won't sell the Minnesota Twins after all. Milwaukee has run their win streak to 12 games. How much trouble are the New York Yankees and Mets in after their recent struggles? Rookie Cade Horton has brought stability to a depleted Cubs rotation. After not being granted time, White Sox prospect George Wolkow swung the bat with one hand and hit a single. Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya was carted off the field in last night's win. Dodgers right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart is headed to the IL with a shoulder injury. Houston left-handed pitcher Josh Hader is headed to the IL with a shoulder injury. Shohei Ohtani and his agent are facing a lawsuit over allegedly sabotaging a real estate deal in Hawaii. Is it animal abuse to dress up a dog for money outside an MLB ballpark? ($) The NFL is quietly becoming a media juggernaut. As if enough things in your home weren't online already, you can now get a vacuum cleaner with Wi-Fi connectivity. Dale Webster, who surfed daily for over 40 years, passed away at 77. Your song of the day is You Never Know by Immortal Technique:
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mike Vrabel: Kyle Dugger has to keep working, keep progressing
Changes to the lineup are inevitable when a team makes a coaching change and one of the potential tweaks in New England involves safety Kyle Dugger. Dugger was a starter for most of his first five seasons with the Patriots and he's still listed as a starter on their depth chart, but the unofficial nature of that chart has been made clear by the team's look in practice. Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Craig Woodson have been the top safeties in recent practices for New England while Dugger works with the second team. On Wednesday, head coach Mike Vrabel noted that Dugger had offseason ankle surgery and that other players have made a strong case for first-team time while discussing what Dugger has to do in order to climb back up the ladder. "I think just making sure that he's where he needs to be and understanding the coverage concepts and everything we do," Vrabel said. "Keep working and keep progressing. A lot of this is the guys that have earned a right to take a look with that first unit, and again, there'll be different lineups and different things, so just focus on the reps that you get. Right now, his attitude's been great, and he's had a long recovery in the offseason. He's been out there, and he's continued to get better and work, and I think the more that he practices, the better he's going to feel and the more that it's going to translate onto the football field." If Dugger is not able to reclaim his old spot, the Patriots could look to move him to a team that would offer him a starting role as they put together their roster for Vrabel's first year running the show in New England.
