Irving Stronger in Wake of Injury

DURHAM, N.C. - Freshman Kyrie Irving walks into a darkened Cameron Indoor Stadium, a state he hasn't seen the building in since Countdown 2 Craziness.

This entrance is of a different sort.

The song 'Teach Me How to Dougie' is not blaring through the speakers and a crowd of Crazies are not chanting his name. He is here to answer questions for the first time about the injury that has limited his freshman season to just eight games.

It's hard to believe that Irving is only 18 years old. He comes across as both honest and mature as he speaks about the injury. He knows it's not fair, but he never displays a blip of bitterness.

"I'm not going to sugar coat it," Irving said. "It has been really tough, just seeing my teammates getting ready for games in the layup line and just the ball being tipped. I miss that feeling being out in Cameron and playing away games and big time games on ESPN."

"I miss all those moments because those were opportunities that I wanted to see, especially during my freshman year, and all that being taken away from you it's hard to really understand, and you always question why did this happen to me? But I think I have grown, I've grown mentally and physically throughout this whole process. I have kept my faith and I think that is what's getting me through this."

He obviously would much rather be playing under the lights of Cameron than sitting in the dark, a spotlight shining on him, answering questions about rehab and a toe injury so famous that it has spawned its own website created by Duke students (savekyriestoe.com), but Irving's faith, family and friends have stood by his side and been his support system since the injury occurred Dec. 4 against Butler.

"My father and my sister [have been my strongest supporters], by far, and I get a lot of support here, but my family they've just been great with just understanding the injury and just helping me get through this," Irving said.

"They [Duke students] came up with the website savekyriestoe.com. I thought that was really funny, and it really got my spirits going. Just knowing that they are still supporting me even through this time it just tells me that they really care and they are really showing a lot of support."

When the injury first occurred, Irving took about a week and a half to just let the situation sink in. It was all he really could do at the time. He then began his rehab which includes lifting, core workouts, band workouts and medicine ball workouts with the physical therapists, athletic trainers and strength trainers.

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Earlier in the day, Irving shoots on a side basket in the K Center, while the rest of the Blue Devils stretch and prepare for their weight-lifting session. His eyes glance over occasionally at his other 12 teammates going through the stretches. He longs to take part in the simple routine.

Once the team is done stretching they all proceed into the weight room, Irving included, beginning a lifting session.

Irving bench presses first and then arm curls, finally heading over to the free weights to conclude the lift.

He jokes with teammates and smiles during the workout. He enjoys their company. He slaps five with everyone from teammates to staff members, with each seemingly having their own special choreographed handshake.

"We are always joking around with him trying to keep his spirits high because we know it can be hard to not be able to play," sophomore guard Andre Dawkins said.

One of the greatest blessings for Irving has been the fact that he hasn't had to leave Duke at any point since the injury. The entire rehab process has occured at Duke, keeping Irving around his teammates.

"It feels like the game was taken away from me when I got injured, but being here and rehabbing and seeing all the guys and still being able to interact with them I think that helps me through this process," Irving said.

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When Irving was on the court for the Blue Devils he was arguably the best player on a team that features All-Americans Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith.

The last time Irving walked off Coach K Court in his full Duke uniform was following the Blue Devils 84-79 win over Michigan State on Dec. 1. Irving lit up the court that night, scoring 31 points, the second most by a freshman at Duke. His teammates didn't mince their words when discussing his performance following the game.

"School wise yes [he is a freshman], but basketball wise, Kyrie is just unbelievable with what he can do with the ball, just what he can do on the basketball court," senior Kyle Singler said that night.

His next game, which was the last time he has worn the Duke jersey, he scored 21 points in another Duke win over Butler.

Back before the word toe became a four letter word, he was one of the leaders of an undefeated Duke team, which now sits at 20-2 (7-1 ACC) on the season.

In only eight games, Irving is averaging 17.4 points per game, 1.5 steals, 5.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds, shooting 53 percent from the floor and 45 percent from three and 89 percent from the free throw line. His name was being brought up in the discussion for National Player of the Year Honors prior to the injury.

"I have never had a great player be injured like this, and especially this early in his career, very unique situation because for eight games he was being considered one of the best players in the country, maybe a top five player in the country," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He loves Duke, he loves what's happening to him, all his dreams and a toe is going to stop him? But it did. What does that do to you mentally?

Most freshmen would have broken but not Kyrie.

"It's happened just the opposite for Kyrie," Krzyzewski said. "He is such a strong person, and he is such a good person. He had such a good heart and loves his teammates and loves Duke. He's been able to handle this in an exemplary fashion. I am amazed at how well he has handled it. He has been an asset to our team, a huge asset to our team as a result of that."

Now, instead of being Duke's starting point guard, instead of wearing his #1 jersey, Irving is embracing his new role: cheerleader.

"I am the best cheerleader there is," Irving said. "I still get excited like I'm on the court when my teammates do something really exciting. Definitely my role has changed, I still feel like I am a leader now, I think I established that when I was playing, but I think I still have that role on this team. I just want to be the best cheerleader there is."

While he refers to himself as the No. 1 cheerleader, he is still much more valuable than just that to his teammates.

"Aside from being a cheerleader, I still am a good teammate," Irving said. "I love to give advice to people. Coach K said that he always likes my advice because the way I approach the game and the way I see the game is kind of mature for my age in that aspect of the game, so offering advice to Nolan, Tyler, Seth and Andre is what I try to do."

"Kyrie has been a big help on the bench," sophomore guard Seth Curry said. "He is kind of like another coach over there. He's always positive with us, and if he sees something on the floor that we can work on and that we need to do out there he will let us know."

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The time away from the game has made Irving appreciate basketball more.

"When people go through injuries like this, they have no choice but to sit and just really analyze the whole situation and just grasp everything that is going on," Irving said.

The cast that has immobilized his right foot since December was removed today (Friday, February 4^th), which was the next step in the methodical plan of care that the Blue Devils medical staff has taken since the injury occurred.

Hopes of significant improvement to the toe flood the air in Krzyzewskiville. But Irving will not risk a premature return.

"We just want to make sure everything is 100% before I even attempt to come back," Irving said.

And so with the lights still turned off in Cameron Indoor, Irving gets up to leave. This exit though is of a different sort than his exit from the floor against Michigan State.

That night he smirked at the Cameron Crazies as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

This time he simply exits. He has more waiting to do.

Irving Stronger in Wake of Injury

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