Ranking the best No. 2 guys in NBA history

Probably the most well-traveled No. 2 in NBA history, Kyrie Irving has had three different stints at being a top-level Robin, first alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2018, then with Durant on the Brooklyn Nets for a bit over two seasons and now behind Luka Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks. (Irving did give being a Batman a try, originally leaving Cleveland to get out from under James’ shadow to be the guy in Boston, but that experiment lasted just two years with Irving forcing his way out of there, too.)

Irving has tasted a good amount of success as an elite No. 2, winning a championship in 2015-16 alongside James with the Cavaliers, one that saw the former Duke Blue Devil hit the series-winning shot in what was a historic Finals against the Warriors. He then got to the Finals again last year, that time with Doncic and the Mavs before falling in five games to the Celtics.

But we can’t ignore how much of a disaster Irving’s Nets stint was, as that situation blew up in fewer than four years with injuries greatly hampering the team’s results, as Brooklyn never got past the second round of the playoffs during Irving’s time there. An ugly contract dispute in 2023 then ultimately led to the enigmatic point guard’s departure from Brooklyn. What’s more, with Harden also on that Nets team, Irving might have actually been the team’s third fiddle at times.

With a Big 3 as potent as Durant, Irving and Harden, the Nets should have won a championship. But Irving’s unhappiness in Brooklyn ended any chance of that happening, forcing the Nets into an unexpectedly quick rebuild. (We can’t fully blame Irving for the Nets blowing up, as the team did have brutal injury luck. Plus, maybe Brooklyn should have just paid Irving and tried to figure out the financials later.)

Overall, had Irving been less of a malcontent in multiple situations, he’d surely rank higher on this list. Heck, had the former No. 1 pick not forced his way out of Cleveland to begin with, maybe he and James could have won more hardware together. (It should also be noted that if Durant hadn’t joined the Warriors in 2017, Irving, James and the Cavs might have very well won at least one more championship together. Durant’s 2017 free-agency decision potentially changed so many legacies, including that of Irving’s.)

Or maybe Irving could have stayed with the Nets longer and won a championship there alongside Durant and Harden. Oh well, at least his Mavericks stint has been drama-free and pretty fruitful. For now, that is.

Regardless, as a No. 2 option, not many players in NBA history can match Irving’s ability as a bucket-getter and playmaker, and he’ll be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer one day for his contributions as an all-time Robin.