Colin Sheridan: Kyrie Irving, Callum Robinson, and the vague sense of a stance

Irving will likely be unaware of Robinson’s story, but there are parallels; the Brooklyn Nets guard last week was benched by his team because of his refusal to get the Covid-19 vaccine, which is much more problematic for Nets coach Steve Nash than Robinson’s indecision was for Kenny

Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Kyrie Irving is an alchemist. His hands are a pair of magic wands that can do things to a basketball few others who played ever could.

He has the feet of a ballerina, and the on-court acumen of a supercomputer. His comparative lack of size means he’ll never be as dominant as LeBron James or Kevin Durant. He’s prone to injury — and to not sticking around — which means he’ll never have the legacy of Steph Curry or even Giannis. But, make no mistake, Irving has magic in his hands and feet. To watch him practise it is to witness greatness manifest. His gift is otherworldly. Which makes the fact we won’t be seeing him do it for a while all the harder to stomach.