Kyrie Irving‘s tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers was equal parts ups and downs. He played a pivotal role in ending the franchise’s 52-year championship drought, securing their lone title in 2016. But soon after, he demanded a trade from the team that picked him No. 1 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft to step out of LeBron James’ shadow, marking an end to his six-season stint with the Cavs.

However, despite the contentious exit from the team, their current franchise cornerstone, Donovan Mitchell, thinks the Cavs should retire his No. 2 jersey “for sure.” In the recent episode of Nightcap, Gilbert Arenas agreed with Mitchell’s claims, but with a bold assumption of his own.

Gilbert Arenas makes a bold claim

Cleveland made an improbable title run in 2016, defeating the Golden State Warriors in seven games. More importantly, they staged a fierce comeback, clawing their way back to victory after erasing a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals. And while James definitely led the charge, it was Irving’s side-step three-pointer in Game 7 over Stephen Curry that sealed the deal for the Cavaliers. According to Arenas, it is highly unlikely that they are going to win their second chip, so they should honor the “man” who led them to their first one. “He deserves it. He got your first championship, you ain’t never gonna get another one. Go ahead and bless the man for what he did,” said the former Washington Wizards guard.

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However, contrary to Arenas’ claims, the Cavaliers have made impressive strides and are currently occupying the second spot in the East, ahead of several title hopefuls, including the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks. They also boast the fourth-best net rating in the league, outperforming even the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets. While their offense may not be their strongest suit, their defense, anchored by the dominant presence of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the paint, ranks second in the league.

Moreover, Donovan Mitchell has been exceptional this season, averaging 28 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game, even picking up the slack when his backcourt partner Darius Garland missed an extended period of time due to injuries. However, Garland’s return to full health and form will be crucial for Cleveland’s chances of a deep playoff run. While they are young and lack playoff experience, they got a taste of what it takes during the playoffs when the New York Knicks booted them from the first round last year. Therefore, barring injuries, Cleveland might emerge as one of the dark horses in the postseason. Do you think the Cavaliers can make a deep run into the postseason? Let us know in the comments!

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