Cavs' Kyrie Irving still wants his 1-on-1 game with Kobe Bryant
Back in the summer of 2012, Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving was on the national select team that scrimmaged against the Team USA Olympic basketball team. Fresh off his rookie season, the opportunity gave Irving a valuable opportunity to be around some of the best players in the world, including one of his childhood idols, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.
Irving and Bryant formed a quick bond, and a video of Irving challenging Bryant to a game of one-on-one went viral. In the video, Bryant claimed Irving should call his father and ask if he thought it was a good idea to play Bryant one-on-one for $50,000, while Irving claimed Bryant would have to play defense, which he said Bryant couldn't do. The two then agreed to play one-on-one in the summer of 2013.
The game never happened, though, because Bryant tore his Achilles in April 2013. Still, that hasn't stopped the two from staying in contact and becoming better friends, given their mutual respect and admiration for each other's offensive game and competitiveness, according to ESPN:
“I challenged Kobe one-on-one and the video kind of went viral,” Irving said. “From that point on, every time we played since I was a rookie, I was just trying to earn his respect. Guys that have come before me, I never forget their groundwork -- even guys that have come before Kobe that allowed him to leave a legacy on this game that will last forever.”
Though Irving says the one-on-one game hasn't been rediscussed yet, with Bryant set to retire at the end of this season, Irving wants the matchup NBA fans have been waiting years for.
“Never came up,” Irving said. “I think I would do it now though. He would still go at me and it would be good.”
The ball's in your court, Kobe.
