National Basketball Association

Watch Kyrie Irving rant about whether a gold medal or NBA title is more important

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:12 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Andrew Lynch

Kyrie Irving is looking to join of one of the most exclusive clubs on the planet.

Only 11 players have won both an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal since the Games started allowing NBA players to participate in 1992, and after Cleveland's epic comeback Finals win this year, Irving's on the cusp of that milestone.

That raises a simple question: Which accomplishment would more meaningful? It's something that's asked of Team USA members every four years; for Irving, the answer is something you'd hear from a parent who has to pick their favorite child.

Via ESPN.com:

If you're a diehard NBA fan — especially a Cavs fan — that might not be what you want to hear. Sure, a gold medal is cool. There's nothing like representing your country and hearing the anthem and all that fun, nationalistic nonsense. But an NBA championship is supposed to be the pinnacle of basketball, the product of the 30 best squads on the planet slugging it out in pursuit of a ring.

Before people could make too much of Irving's comments, however, he took to Snapchat to defend his take in what Irving himself declared a rant:

That's not even the strongest "medal vs. rings" take on the Cavs, however. Way back in 2008, before he'd ever won a title, LeBron James said a championship "would never compare" to the honor of winning a gold medal.

Whether LeBron still feels that way is an open question, but he's not the only NBA player who puts the Olympics over the Larry O'Brien trophy. New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis, who was part of the 2012 gold-medal team, said in July that there's nothing like a gold.

That makes some superficial sense. You definitely only have an opportunity to win a gold medal every four years. But an NBA championship is even rarer, in my estimation, at least for the superstars. Out of 450-plus players every year, 15 can claim to be champions — and an even smaller number can say they had an impact on that title. No matter how good of a player you are individually, everything has to come together to win an NBA championship. The circumstances are out of your control.

While you'll have fewer opportunities to play in the Olympics (probably no more than three during an NBA career), the elite players have a much better chance of making Team USA. And despite Irving's protests, once you're there, a gold medal is basically expected — you know, as long as you're not coached by Larry Brown in 2004.

share

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Basketball Association