While the subject is still debated, particularly following the decision of the management of the French Football Team to purely prohibit the practice of Ramadan during its gatherings, Dallas has made the opposite choice, by supporting members of faith Muslim from his organization who chose to practice fasting for a month.
Even if he had remained discreet on the subject, Kyrie Irvinga Muslim converted in 2021, spoke about the situation, first recalling how difficult it could be to combine fasting with the practice of high-level professional sport.
“Ramadan is a special time. We try not to think too much about the suffering and focus on the journey with God and the path we are taking. It's a difficult experience. Being able to play 48 minutes without drinking or eating in my stomach is a true miracle”, did he declare.
Kyrie Irving remains fast
Last Sunday, it was from him that the miracle came, when the Mavericks beat the Nuggets on the wire thanks to an improbable buzzer beater on his part, all without having eaten or drunk, since the meeting had took place in the afternoon. Since then, “Kai” has done better than holding his own as he followed up two days later in San Antonio by scoring 10 points in the last quarter which helped Dallas to win on the rival's land with 28 points in total.
“We were about to take him out, but he insisted on staying, kindly assuring us that he was not tired”had slipped his coach Jason Kidd after the meeting. “To be able to do the kinds of things he does to lead his team to victory, all while fasting, it's remarkable, it just shows how talented he is. Not just physically, but also mentally.”
The position of the Mavs, to accompany him during this period, undoubtedly also helped him to clear his mind, and to concentrate solely on his fast and his performance, far from the controversies. At his side, he can also count on the presence of God Shammgod, an assistant in Dallas for eight years, with whom he is practicing Ramadan this year.
God Shammgod to accompany him
“We do Ramadan together, so we encourage each other and make sure we get up at the right time to eat. Ramadan is peace. My job with Kai and all the players is to make sure they have peace of mind, even outside of Ramadan. Kai has been a part of other franchises where things have sometimes been misunderstood. It is therefore up to me to ensure that there is always a bridge with the coaches and the franchise. And let there be understanding on both sides”confided J-Kidd's assistant.
It was therefore also the victory of the Mavericks when Kyrie Irving, who claimed to have found ” the peace “ in Dallas, was able to register this “buzzer beater” on an empty stomach.
“Life is made of sacrifices to be able to get what you want”, added God Shammgod. “In this situation, you do everything possible and you believe that everything will go as planned. And it worked, didn't it? This is because Kai remains faithful to this process. The basketball gods take care of everything else.”
| Kyrie Irving | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | KEY | 51 | 31 | 46.9 | 39.9 | 87.2 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 18.5 |
| 2012-13 | KEY | 59 | 35 | 45.2 | 39.1 | 85.5 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 22.5 |
| 2013-14 | KEY | 71 | 35 | 43.0 | 35.8 | 86.1 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| 2014-15 | KEY | 75 | 36 | 46.8 | 41.5 | 86.3 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 21.7 |
| 2015-16 | KEY | 53 | 32 | 44.8 | 32.2 | 88.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 19.6 |
| 2016-17 | KEY | 72 | 35 | 47.3 | 40.1 | 90.5 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 25.2 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 60 | 32 | 49.1 | 40.8 | 88.9 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 24.4 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 67 | 33 | 48.7 | 40.1 | 87.3 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | BRK | 20 | 33 | 47.8 | 39.4 | 92.2 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 27.4 |
| 2020-21 | BRK | 54 | 35 | 50.6 | 40.2 | 92.2 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 26.9 |
| 2021-22 | BRK | 29 | 38 | 46.9 | 41.8 | 91.5 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 27.5 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 60 | 37 | 49.4 | 37.9 | 90.5 | 1.0 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 * | BRK | 40 | 37 | 48.6 | 37.4 | 88.3 | 1.0 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 * | DAL | 20 | 38 | 51.0 | 39.2 | 94.7 | 1.1 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 27.0 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 48 | 34 | 49.0 | 40.5 | 90.9 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 25.3 |
| Total | 719 | 34 | 47.3 | 39.3 | 88.6 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 23.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
