Kyrie Irving's career at Duke has ended after 11 games in one injury-shortened season.
Irving, a point guard whose freshman season was interrupted for 3 1/2 months because of an injury to his right big toe, will enter the NBA draft and plans to hire an agent, Duke spokesman Matt Plizga confirmed.
A 6-foot-2 native of West Orange, N.J., Irving is expected to be one of the top picks in the draft. A mock draft on NBAdraft.net projects him as the No. 2 pick overall, behind only Arizona forward Derrick Williams.
Irving averaged 17.5 points and 4.3 assists per game and shot 52.9 percent from the field in 11 games. He played the first eight games of the season before injuring his toe, then returned for Duke's three NCAA tournament games.
In a statement, coach Mike Krzyzewski said he is "overjoyed" that Irving attended Duke and now has a chance to chase his dream of playing in the NBA.
“We are totally supportive of Kyrie, his family and his decision," Krzyzewski said. "We look forward to continuing to work with him during the upcoming months leading to his entry into the NBA and afterwards while he is an NBA player. He is a great young man, a terrific student, and a truly amazing representative for our program and for Duke. We love him and are very happy for him and his family.”
Irving issued a statement through the school thanking the staff and coaches and saying that playing for Krzyzewski was a great experience.
"He taught me a lot about the game," Irving said. "Even when I was hurt, I learned a lot. Also a special thanks goes to the medical staff for getting me back on the court for the NCAA Tournament and my teammates for sticking with me throughout the entire year. Duke offered me an experience I could never have imagined.”
Comments
GET PAID
Thu, 04/07/2011 - 03:47 — Gene44If any of you jokers crying about the fact that he's leaving had a chance to sign a guaranteed multimillion dollar contract while you were in college (if you actually went to college) you would have done so in a heart beat. Good on you Kyrie, go out and get that money dude! Haters will always hate...
Congrats and good luck in
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 21:51 — duke_blueCongrats and good luck in the pros Kyrie!
Quit yer bellyachin'
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 21:13 — monkandmilesThe only reason some of the top freshmen in college basketball are in college is because of the NBA rule that you have to be one year removed from high school before you are eligible to play in the NBA. Many basketball players go to college because it is good to get experience on a higher level than high school, and it is a good transition to the NBA. Of course, a person could choose to skip college altogether and go overseas for a year, which is what Brandon Jennings did. He's now a star on the rise in Milwaukee. There was a kid who skipped his senior year of high school to play in Israel. Wacky, but it was his right to do so.
Kyrie Irving, if not for the NBA's rule, would have been a top-10 NBA draft pick last year. He could have chosen to play overseas or in the NBDL instead of going to Duke. Don't place blame on the player; place it on the NBA. Keep in mind that the NBA has the same right to establish rules of eligibility (1 year removed from high school) as your workplace may have (e.g. college degree, 2 years' experience, internship, etc.).
bye bye!!!!!!!!!
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 20:39 — toddchrissreally good bye and dont come back, you messed up the chemistry of this team in the playoffs and ruined the only chance of repeating as champions in the ncaa, i love coach k and duke but he sold nolan smith and kyle singlar down the river against arizona,yeah, kyrie scored 28 but he took smith and singlar right out of the game and you dont take 2 all american seniors off the ball late on a championship run in the tournament.this was coach ks biggest boogle of all time, and a terrible coaching job in the last game,he lost another ring as he has already lost a few,,,,just like dean smith ,,,sometimes they mess there own self up,dean shouldve had more than 2 champioinships ,,,,,,k should have about 2 or 3 more!!!!!!!!
What a stupid comment. I
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 23:38 — weslorocksWhat a stupid comment. I guess if you were the coach you would have told Irving "hey thanks for coming to Duke and helping us start 8-0, thanks for traveling with the team, rehabing like crazy, rooting your teammates on harder than any injured player in history, helping Nolan with his ball handling, and being an all-around great teammate, but I'm afraid you might mess up what we have going on right now so just sit on the bench while we play." It doesn't work like that clown. Arizona would have smoked Duke with or without Irving. They were hot that night and would have beaten any team with that performance. So stop being such a hater. I guess you know what plays would have allowed Dean and K to win those extra championships too right? What a rare treat to have such a basketball genius on the message board!
Good luck to him
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 20:33 — growupBest of luck to him and the others from the ACC who will be in the NBA next season. Irving, J Williams, Barnes, whoever.
The problem is the system, not the players
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 20:18 — twinspapaI can't blame the players. You go to college to prepare for a good job: if any one of us had the chance to make a living doing what we love while setting up the family to be financially independent for a lifetime or more, we'd jump at it. They can finish school anytime- they have this opportunity once.
The problem is the system- they should do what I think they do for baseball: let them go pro after high school, but if they go to school, they have to stay 3 years minimum. That way the colleges are not just a one&done factory- the ones who neither need nor want a college education are then not forced to take one- and the ones who need college will get a free education.
Family
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 19:33 — cubswin1bbbbbbb, but I thought it was all about family at Duke?
Ridiculous
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 18:01 — VillageMentalityAs a former college athlete (not BB or FB big money), I am really sick at the way we have allowed these knuckleheads to leave and devalue college athletics and most importantly the value of an education.
I guess. I'm old school.
These athletes DO get paid- its called a scholarship. They should be made to stay until they get their degree or their 4 years eligibility are up. They should be made to signs contract. Its called a commitment and we no longer value this either. What a shame.
Coaches who continue to recruit these losers do a disservice to academia and the kids who have no chance of making the pros as the emphasis is turning pro vs preparing for life.
Thanks for letting me rant.
HUH?
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 21:22 — TheMambaSTRIKESEven if NBA Basketball wanted to adopt the NCAA baseball --- go pro now... or stay 3 year rule ... for basketball (and they don't)......the law suits and court room drama would hit the legal fan....if it did go through.....
Also....The top players could go to play Asian/ Euro ball for a year or 2 at any point , pocket a couple $100++ K....and hook up with alotta hot chix on the side.....sure sounds better than mod civ 1 & 2 lectures...in Saunders.......
Better Be glad you get what you get.... and a scholarship, worth anything to the Bling Boys ? You Can Not Be Serious !.
Wrong
Thu, 04/07/2011 - 13:40 — gvillegatrThe CBA will include some sort of high school jump AND stay two or three years when this gets done now, over the summer or into the near future. Thusly, there will be ZERO law suits.
No rant;
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 18:36 — Shoreman67you're just stating your opinion and I could not agree with you more.
How many decades ago did early entry into NBA start?
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 18:31 — melvinfurdI don't understand the rant since this has been going on for years and years. Of course, you are certainly entitled to your opinion.
early entry into NBA
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 19:39 — VillageMentalityYou are correct. I have had a problem with this NBA early entry practice since its inception. Hearing that an athlete who spent much of the season injured is now going on to the NBA and that there are teams stupid enough to pay for someone who hasn't proven himself just really irritated me today. Must've forgotten to take my meds......
Of course. . .
Thu, 04/07/2011 - 21:58 — melvinfurdOf course if somehow Congress passed a federal law to make it a felony to leave for the NBA before completing four years of college basketball, then Irving would still have been free to transfer to another school . . . .
Later !!
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 17:44 — gvillegatrNice getting NOT to know you !
Wow!
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 17:40 — PhilcobrownI am sure surpirsed by this!
Signed, Noah Body & Buddy Noone
It certainly is sad to think
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 17:39 — weslorocksIt certainly is sad to think what Irving could have accomplished had he not been injured or if he had stayed three or even four years, but you really can't blame a the guy for going after his NBA dream and paycheck. The days of the four year star player are long gone. I'm still looking forward to watching him in the league.
Long gone????
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 19:38 — HeelsforeverWe're only two years removed from Tyler H staying four years. Surely you're not so bitter that you would say with a straight face that he was not a star.
I have to agree with
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 23:29 — weslorocksI have to agree with twinspapa on this one. Hansbrough was the exception to the rule, just like JJ Redick. Both of those guys have carved out nice pro careers but neither is an all-star caliber player. The last four year guy that was the number 1 pick and a superstar in the NBA was Tim Duncan in 1997.
Apples and Oranges
Wed, 04/06/2011 - 20:14 — twinspapaTyler was a college star, but was never projected as an NBA star- certainly not a top 3 pick. The days of the college superstar teams are over. It's the one-and-done era now.
That's why The Sporting News' recent "Top 10 College Teams of all time" article did not list a single team in the last 15 years. Unless there is some freak freshmen team, the days where there are multiple future NBA all-stars on the floor of a college game at the same time are over.
It used to be, of both Carolina & Duke & the other top tier teams, you could say that their bench would be starters for other teams. Now, their bench guys are the starters, and the starters are in the NBA.