Which NBA star has compared Dillon Brooks to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan?
Dillon Brooks compared Kyrie Irving to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan following the Grizzlies' 112-108 win over the Mavericks on Monday. Brooks was in awe of Irving's wizardry offense.
He highlighted things like Irving's pace, ability to shoot with both hands and impeccable mid-range efficiency akin to legends like Bryant and Jordan. Here's what the Grizzlies forward said (via Legion Hoops on Twitter):
“He’s just like Kobe. He’s just like Jordan and those guys. He plays the game at a different pace. He uses both hands, mid-range God. And that’s where I want to be at one day, be able to shoot the ball more.”
It isn't surprising that Brooks has compared Irving and the two legends. Bryant mentored the former No. 1 pick. Meanwhile, the former emulated Jordan throughout his career. Hence, Irving's game is very similar to Bryant's and Jordan's.
Kyrie Irving is also a sincere student of the game, and his offensive skillset is arguably one of the best in league history. Irving is an efficient three-level scorer. There aren't many players better than him regarding isolation scoring and finding their spots by creating space like he does. Irving is one of nine players to record a 50/40/90 shooting season.
Irving hasn't had a career like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan's due to the off-court controversies he has been a part of over the years. However, fans and rival players like Dillon Brooks have tremendous respect for his talent and game.
Kyrie Irving rejects Dillon Brooks' shirt in jersey swap, clears the air
Dillon Brooks appears to be a fan of Kyrie Irving. The former is known to have beef with nearly all of his rivals, but after the Grizzlies' win over the Mavericks, Brooks appeared to ask for Irving's jersey. Kyrie was kind enough to offer him his shirt but surprisingly avoided collecting Brooks' jersey. Here's a clip of the incident (via Action Network on Twitter):
NBA fans believe Irving deliberately avoided Brooks' jersey. But that wasn't the case. Irving cleared the air after the game, saying (via Dallas Mavericks' beat writer Grant Afseth):
"I saw that after the game. I'll probably get it next time. Probably next time. Not this time. I was really onto the next thing, thought process-wise."
Kyrie Irving had a terrible second half in which he went 2-of-11 from the field, accounting for only eight points. He went 0-for-8 in the fourth, going scoreless in the final 12 minutes. Dillon Brooks was the primary defender against him all game, which led everyone to believe that Irving rejecting the Grizzlies forward's jersey was intentional.