Durant raves over 'Ramadan Kyrie'
NEW YORK – “Ramadan Kyrie” is on a different level.
Kevin Durant was in awe of his friend and teammate after Kyrie Irving’s scintillating performance on an empty stomach during their play-in game win.
Irving fasted the whole day, then feasted on his former team, Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time) as the Brooklyn Nets booked the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a 115-108 victory.
The early 7 p.m. tip-off kept Irving from eating and drinking anything until the second quarter.
Irving’s fasting is part of his observance of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, which started on April 1 and will last until May 1. He is not allowed to eat, drink or engage in sexual activity from pre-sunrise to sunset as spiritual cleansing to achieve greater “taqwa” or consciousness of God.
The empty stomach didn’t bother Irving as he was hungry for a victory, determined to make up for the lost time. Irving was not allowed to play at home until March 28, when New York City Mayor Eric Adams gave hometown athletes and performers an exception from the employer COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Irving waxed hot early, hitting his first five shots as the Nets led by 20 in the opening quarter. He did not miss a shot until the fourth quarter when his three-pointer rimmed in and out. He missed his last three shots but made four three throws down the stretch to close out the Cavaliers.
Irving finished with a game-high 34 points on 12 of 15 shots and 12 assists. His 12 straight field goals without a miss to start the game were career-high.
The young but feisty Cavaliers trimmed the Nets’ 22-point lead down to five, 109-104, with 18.1 seconds left but Kevin Durant and Irving drained six straight free throws to fend off their rally.
Durant added 25 points and 11 assists. He ceded the spotlight to Irving.
“Everybody who does Ramadan and is playing through it, you’ve gotta commend them while they’re going through it,” Durant said. “That’s tough to do, especially when you have a job like this. So many people [are] sacrificing to get closer to a higher power. I respect that.”
“But to play an NBA game like that? The last week or so? That shows that he’s a different human being. Hopefully, he keeps it up. He was great tonight.”
Since Ramadan started, Irving has been averaging 30.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in 40.8 minutes in five games — all resulted in victories that helped the pre-tournament title favorites to advance into the playoffs.
His inspiring performance has earned him a new moniker: “Ramadan Kyrie.”
But while Irving appreciates the recognition, he doesn’t want fanfare attached to his spiritual journey.
“I want to keep it private. It’s a journey between me and God,” he said. “I appreciate the recognition on these different platforms, but this is sacred to me. It’s really the protection I feel for my brothers and sisters that are doing the same with me. It’s a blessing to be able to do it and still be able to perform.”
Irving added that fasting is “not easy by any stretch of the imagination.” But he knows what’s at stake on the court — his dream championship for the team he rooted for growing up in New Jersey.
He’s locked in mentally and spiritually.
“You can’t really take any moment for granted during the day,” Irving said. “I don’t really have the time or the attention to give energy to any distractions. So, I come in here, I really just pay attention to the details and remind myself that I’m breathing, and that’s enough. So, it just really simplifies life and puts it in a greater perspective.”
The Nets will need Irving to continue his superhuman effort in the first-round series against the second seed and his other former team, Boston Celtics, which begins on Sunday at 3:30 pm (3:30 a.m. Monday, Manila time).
--
Alder Almo is a former senior sportswriter for Philstar.com and NBA.com Philippines. He is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey, and writes for the New York-based sports website empiresportsmedia.com.
- Latest
- Trending
