Kyrie Irving breaks right hand during summer league practice with Cleveland Cavaliers – NBA News
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been dealt a heavy blow in their plans for the summer. They had hoped for pairing up point guard Kyrie Irving and this year’s draft pick Dion Waiters together in the back court and work them out to
see what sort of magic they are able to create. But the excitement about watching two operate together turned into despair and frustration when Irving broke his right hand during team practice in Las Vegas.
The Cavaliers buzzing player and reigning rookie of the year Kyrie Irving broke his right hand after slamming it against a wall in frustration over a turnover, during the practice ahead of a summer league matchup in Las Vegas.
“It just really alters all the plans we had this summer as far as summer league was concerned. That was Plan A. We didn't have a Plan B going into this because you just never imagine that happening,” said Cavs Head Coach Byron
Scott while talking to reporters in Las Vegas.
Irving travelled back to Cleveland on Sunday, but arrived too late to be examined by doctors. He is scheduled to undergo a comprehensive examination on Monday, after which it will become clear as to how long Irving will be sidelined.
The team is expecting him to be back before training camp which will begin in September.
Irving played his rookie season with the Cavaliers, where he averaged 18.5 points, 5.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds. He had a field goal percentage of 46.9% and a three point percentage of 39.9%. Despite being injury prone, he took
the rookie of the year honours last season, and the Cavs have high expectations from him looking into the future. They added number 4 pick in this year’s Draft, Dion Waiters, to the team in an attempt to strengthen the back court and pair him with Irving.
After playing 51 out of the 66 scheduled games in his first season, Irving was labelled by some as being injury prone. However, Coach Scott thinks otherwise.
"That was just something stupid on his part. As soon as I saw it, I didn't see him initially hit the thing, but I saw when he came down the court he was kind of holding his hand. I said, `What did you do?' The first thing he said
was, `Something stupid.' So he knew right away it was something he shouldn't have done -- just a little anger at not making a pass or the pass wasn't completed,” said Scott.
Irving had earlier practised with the U.S Olympic team as a member of the select team that was brought in to scrimmage with them. He turned a few heads during the practice sessions, receiving positive comments from players such
as Chris Paul, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
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