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NBA is unfairly overlooking Kyrie Irving for award that should belong to him

Noah Weber
Noah Weber

The Smoking Cuban

Dallas Mavericks v Charlotte Hornets / David Jensen/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks are absolutely rolling ahead of the 2024 NBA Playoffs as they have won 16 of their last 19 games.

Dallas' offense is clicking on all cylinders and their defense is looking like one of the best in the league. P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. are leading the defensive charge, and their lockdown defense on the perimeter has been elite.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are also looking like the best duo in the NBA, and their individual play has helped lead this team to a top-five seed in the Western Conference.

NBA is unfairly overlooking Kyrie Irving for award that should belong to him

While all signs are pointing to Doncic getting robbed of the 2024 MVP by Nikola Jokic, it also looks like Irving will get robbed of an award that he clearly deserves.

According to the odds that are listed above, Irving isn't even a top-10 favorite for the 2024 NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Irving has arguably been the best closer in the NBA this season, and he has the stats to back it up.

About a week ago, Irving dropped 48 points against the Houston Rockets while scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Irving was hitting shot after shot down the stretch, and he willed the Mavericks to this win.

Irving also hit one of the most incredible game-winning shots we've ever seen against the Denver Nuggets last month, and he has the numbers to back up that he may be better in the clutch than Doncic.

Irving not even being in the conversation for this award is unfathomable, and his clutch stats show just how effective he has been this season.

Irving averages 4.2 clutch points per game (fourth in the NBA) and is shooting 60 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from downtown, and 95.5 percent from the free-throw line in the clutch. When the clock is winding down, Irving is one of the best and the league, and the numbers listed above show that.

The Mavericks also have the best clutch record in the NBA (tied with the Los Angeles Lakers) and the fact that Doncic and Irving won't be considered for this award despite being on the best clutch team in the NBA makes no sense.

For all the latest on Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, and the Dallas Mavericks for the 2024 NBA Playoffs, stay tuned.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.