Kyrie Irving hasn’t logged a single minute this season as he recovers from his ACL tear, yet his fingerprints are all over the Dallas Mavericks’ backcourt.
While he can’t guide the team on the floor, head coach Jason Kidd says Irving has taken it upon himself to guide rising guard Brandon Williams from the sideline, in practices, and in the locker room.
“Kai’s leadership has been huge… Just being able to have a voice, someone who’s done it at a very high level, and someone that you can see doing it in practice,” Kidd said. “So you get to learn on job training, visual, and being able to hear Kai’s voice, and so I think it’s incredible of a masterclass of what Kai has done so far with B Will.”
Williams is only 25 years old and now in his second full season with Dallas.
He earned the starting point guard job earlier this month, something Kidd directly connects to Irving’s guidance.
Kidd has seen this relationship building for over a year. Last season, he praised the young guard’s development by saying:
“I think being around Kai here has elevated his game. I think he has studied Kai a little bit and has taken a page out of his book.”
The mentorship extends well beyond X’s and O’s. During practices, Irving constantly pulls Williams aside to dissect pick-and-roll coverages, tempo, and late-game reads. Off the court, Williams admits he leans on Irving as much as possible.
“I call Kai literally about anything,” Williams said lat last season. “Anything that I need, anything that I want to learn about, office is right there. Kyrie is one phone call away. I look up to Kyrie.”
Through 15 games, Williams is averaging 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 steals, one of the few bright spots in Dallas’ difficult 5-12 start.
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