Karma Exists Just Ask The Cleveland Cavaliers and Kyrie Irving

In the summer of 2010, the city of Cleveland burned to ashes.

At least that is what Cleveland sports fans would lead you to believe.

They would tell you when LeBron made "The Decision" to take his talents to South Beach, he also damned the city to another 50 years of championship purgatory. The city has three professional sports teams in the Indians, Cavaliers and Browns. Yet, has been without a championship parade since 1964.

But karma does exist Cleveland, Kyrie Irving is evidence of that.

The city lost a superstar in the summer of 2010, but Cleveland won the NBA lottery just one summer later. In the NBA featuring perennial losers who lack a true superstar such as the Bucks, Bobcats, Raptors, and Kings the Cavs should consider themselves blessed Kyrie Irving fell into their lap so soon.

In just his second season in the league, he was selected for his first All Star appearance later this month. In his short time in the NBA he has already become one of the five most dynamic guards in the league. Due to his age and ability, he has arguably the highest trade value of any player in the league.

Irving leads all point guards this year with 24.0 PPG, which is also good for sixth in the league. He is in a four way tie for ninth in the league in player efficiency rating with 23.0. His dribble hesitation moves are only rivaled by that of Tony Parker and Chris Paul, pretty good company for a 20 year old kid. He also has hit five buzzer beating game wining shots in his brief time in the league. Showing a poise and calm in the late game pressure moments, a trait only seen in the brightest of superstars at his young age. No more was that evident then his 13 point outburst in the final three minutes in a win over Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Critics of Irving will point to his 5.4 assists which ranks a dismal 29th among starting point guards, and the fact that his defense can be lackadaisical at times, as reasons to temper the excitement surrounding Kyrie. Yet, his defense will improve as the team improves. Defense is about effort and its hard to be 100% committed at all times on the defensive side of the ball when your team is just 14-34 on the season. Also, the assists are a reflection of the talent surrounding Irving at the moment. The Cavaliers currently don't have another shooter on the level of Irving himself. And while Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters are both top five draft picks, both are still extremely raw on the offensive side of the ball and are at least a year or two away from being significant scorers in the NBA.

Kyrie Irving is going to make numerous All Star games in his career. He will battle Derrick Rose for the next decade to be first team all NBA at point guard and also win an MVP and just maybe release the city from it's championship purgatory. Hey Cleveland stop feeling sorry for yourselves, you may have lost LeBron but karma does exist, you got Kyrie Irving.

Added 2/16/13: Did you see what he did to Brandon Knight in Fresh/Soph game??? WOW!!!