Kyrie Irving looked fantastic physically on his return. I asked him given the large sample size we now have of players returning post these traumatic injuries and looking like themselves (Tatum, Lillard, Haliburton), if the days are gone for these types of injuries to be career death sentences. Kyrie gave me an incredibly insightful response: “We’ve been able to learn over the past few years what the body is capable of doing. We like to defy all the odds. The next generation is using us as an example. These injuries aren’t the same anymore, they’re not seen the same anymore. We have the opportunity to sit with doctors, go overseas, sit with other people that have gone through these injuries and come back even better”

I asked Cooper Flagg whether he set any specific All-Star or All-NBA goals this season. While he admits he does have private goals, he confirms he’s more of a process guy. “I know if I show up everyday and get the most out of myself I’ll put myself in a position to achieve those goals”