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Kyrie Irving compares himself to Benjamin Button
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Kyrie Irving compares himself to Benjamin Button

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving had his third dunk of the 2023-24 season on Tuesday night against the San Antonio Spurs.

Following the 113-107 victory, the soon-to-be 32-year-old pondered whether he was getting more athletic with age, a la Benjamin Button from the 2008 Oscar-nominated film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

While Irving said he believed the third dunk represented a new career high, he actually had four slams during his early days with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012-13 and 2014-15.

Following Tuesday's action, "Uncle Drew" is up to 27 career regular-season dunks, four of which have come in the last two campaigns.

Just because the bulk of Irving's dunks came early in his career doesn't mean he may not be getting better (and more athletic) in his 30s.

The eight-time All-Star averages 25.4 points per game this season (1.9 more than his career average). Irving also posts 5.2 assists per contest, while his 5.1 rebounds match last season's mark, just under his 5.2 boards in 2019-20, which is his career high.

His 1.3 steals per game are on pace with his career average and his 0.5 blocks per contest are just over his 0.4 career average.

Irving's missed 22 of the team's 69 games this season but has suited up for every contest since Feb. 5.

The 2011 first overall pick had one of the most remarkable buzzer-beating, game-winners in recent memory on Sunday against the Denver Nuggets, showing that his Benjamin Button theory may not be all that crazy.

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