Kyrie Irving Is Our Off-Court NBA Finals MVP

Congratulations to the Boston Celtics for winning the 2023/24 NBA championship and to Jaylen Brown for winning the Finals MVP trophy. There were multiple storylines during this year’s NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks, but Kyrie Irving’s pregame outfits managed to outshine them all.

I never imagined I’d utter these words, but sometimes it’s not about Kyrie Irving’s dazzling grace on the basketball court, his wizard-like ball-handling, or those jaw-dropping finishes at the rim that define his greatness.

While he might have struggled on the court to keep up with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, we are not here to talk stats. No, what we are witnessing with Kyrie Irving is the evolution of one of the league’s finest into a man who transcends the game.

Kyrie is our unofficial Finals MVP because he has managed to leverage his immense popularity and global platform to champion mental growth by publicly reflecting on how his time with Boston ended in 2019 amid unmet promises and tumultuous fan disappointment. But most importantly, he is our off-court NBA Finals MVP because he was able to subtly bring representation to pressing social issues through his fashion choices, all the while showcasing an unparalleled sense of style.

From his demeanour off-court to his meaningful outfits Kyrie Irving is redefining what it means to be an athlete in the modern era.

Kyrie’s Pregame Outfits

Our off-court Finals MVP should have already been handed out after seeing Kyrie Irving accessorizing his outfit with arguably the most appropriate tunnel fit item ever, a basketball.

He basically pulled up to Game 1 the same way you’d be pulling up to any outdoor courts this summer, with a basketball in your hands. Fact check me on this but I believe this to be a never-been-done before.

With this tunnel fit Kyrie Irving comes out with a cool, relaxed confidence about him as he walks down the locker room. He wears an oversized, black knit sweater paired with loose, black cargo pants, helping to create a laid-back yet stylish look. 

His footwear choice of bold, black, and white striped sneakers adds a touch of flair, while a black cap and a statement necklace complete the outfit. 

For game 2 instead, Kyrie Irving showcases an elevated take on the look of the previous game.

This time, he dons a tailored double-breasted black blazer over a mesh shirt, paired with matching black trousers that slightly flare at the bottom. His polished black dress shoes add a touch of elegance, while his layered necklaces provide a subtle yet stylish accent. 

The accessory of choice is not a basketball this time but a leather backpack with the Palestinian keffiyeh attached. A sartorial choice that speaks louder than words and shows Kyrie’s consistent commitment to social causes and using fashion to help representation beyond mere brand names and logos.

Personally, though, Game 5 is the outfit that ultimately crowned him Finals MVP.

Kyrie Irving stepped out in a work-wear-inspired coordinated outfit with his daughter by his side. He wears a cream-colored shirt and matching pants, paired with beige sneakers, and completed with a brown cap saying, “Enlightened Warrior”, a nod to his Native American Red Sioux heritage. 

His daughter, equally stylish, sports a cream sweater with an ‘A’ patch, bright red shorts, and white sneakers.

This father-daughter duo is a statement of the intersection between fashion, sports, and family connection, and a huge off-court win for the 2024 NBA Finals Kyrie Irving Runway Show.

For more basketball-related topics, learn more about the story of AND1, discover LeBron James’ net worth, or check out the best basketball movies of all time.