Kyrie Irving is basically a walking highlight reel. You’ve seen the handles, the circus finishes, and that one shot over Steph Curry that basically froze time in 2016. But when you start digging into the actual Kyrie Irving stats in playoffs, the picture gets a lot more complicated than just a few legendary buckets.
People love to argue about Kyrie. Is he the most skilled player ever? Or is he a "co-star" who can’t carry a team? Honestly, the numbers tell a story that usually ticks off both sides of the debate. He isn't a traditional stat-sheet stuffer like Luka or LeBron. He's a surgical scorer who fluctuates between looking like the best player on the planet and disappearing into the flow of an offense.
The Cleveland Years: Where the Legend Started
Most of the "clutch" narrative comes from 2015 to 2017. During those three runs with the Cavaliers, Kyrie was essentially untouchable as a second option.
In the 2016 NBA Finals—the one everyone remembers—Kyrie averaged 27.1 points per game. That wasn't just volume scoring, either. He shot nearly 47% from the field and over 40% from deep. In Game 5 of that series, he and LeBron both dropped 41 points. Think about that. 41 points on the road in an elimination game against a 73-win team.
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Then came Game 7.
26 points.
6 rebounds.
The shot.
If you look at the Kyrie Irving stats in playoffs from 2017, he actually got better in some ways. He dropped a playoff career-high 42 points against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, including a 21-point third-quarter explosion. He was shooting 46.8% from the field across that entire postseason. He looked like the natural heir to the throne.
Breakdown of the 2016 Finals Production
- Game 3: 30 points, 8 assists (The "we aren't dead yet" game)
- Game 5: 41 points, 6 assists, 17/24 FG (Total efficiency)
- Game 7: 26 points, the game-winning three-pointer
The Post-LeBron Reality Check
Things got weird after he left Cleveland. The stats shifted.
When Kyrie moved to Boston and later Brooklyn, the expectations changed from being a secondary closer to being "The Man." In 2019 with the Celtics, it sort of fell apart. Against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round, he struggled immensely. He famously told reporters he "should have shot 30" after a bad night, but the efficiency just wasn't there. He finished that series shooting 35.6% from the field.
It was a wake-up call.
In Brooklyn, the sample size is frustratingly small because of injuries. In 2021, he was actually playing some of his most efficient basketball—averaging 22.7 points on nearly 50/40/90 splits—before that Giannis-under-the-basket ankle injury ended his run.
By the time he hit the 2024 playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks, we saw a "Mature Kyrie." He averaged 22.1 points and 5.1 assists across 22 games. He wasn't hunt-scoring as much. He was letting Luka Doncic take the wheel for three quarters and then turning into a flamethrower in the fourth.
Why the "Clutch" Stat is Real
If you're looking for why players and coaches fear him more than the raw box score suggests, you have to look at the "Clutch" metrics.
According to various tracking data, Kyrie has one of the highest success rates in the league for shots taken in the final minute to tie or take the lead. We're talking about a 51.9% conversion rate in those "do or die" moments. For context, that puts him ahead of guys like Ray Allen and Reggie Miller in similar postseason scenarios.
It’s about the "how," not just the "how many."
Career Playoff Averages (as of 2025-2026)
- Points: ~23.0
- Assists: ~5.0
- 3P%: ~39.2%
- FT%: ~88.5%
The Misconception of the "Playoff Dropper"
There is a loud corner of the internet that calls Kyrie a "playoff dropper" because his winning percentage without LeBron James was middling for a few years.
It’s a bit of a reach.
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If you look at his Kyrie Irving stats in playoffs during his 2024 run with Dallas, he helped lead a team to the Finals while being the defensive "connector" and the vocal leader. He didn't need to score 40 every night to be impactful. He took the toughest perimeter defensive assignments, which usually isn't reflected in the scoring columns.
The real limitation isn't his skill; it's his availability. Between the 2015 knee injury, the 2018 infection, and the 2021 ankle, Kyrie has missed roughly 25% of the playoff games his teams have played since he entered his prime. That matters.
How to Value These Stats
If you’re a bettor or just a die-hard fan trying to win an argument, don't just look at the 23-point average. Look at the fourth-quarter splits.
Kyrie often spends the first half of playoff games as a decoy. He’ll take 4 or 5 shots, move the ball, and keep the defense honest. Then, in the final 14 minutes, he’ll drop 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. That’s the Kyrie blueprint.
To really understand his value, you have to watch the "gravity" he creates. Even when he isn't shooting, defenses won't leave him. This opens up the lane for guys like Luka or KD. His impact is often found in the "expected points per possession" when he's on the floor versus off.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the 4th Quarter: Kyrie's scoring volume in the final period is often double his 1st quarter output.
- Efficiency over Volume: He rarely takes 30 shots. If he takes 18-20, he’s usually in his "zone."
- Check the Defensive Matchup: Kyrie’s playoff stats often dip when he’s asked to guard the opposing team’s best player, as it saps his energy for the offensive end.
Next time you see a "Kyrie is overrated" post, pull up the 2016 Finals shooting splits or his clutch FG%. The numbers don't lie, even if they don't always tell the whole story.
For a deeper look into how these stats compare to other modern point guards, you can check the latest tracking data on Basketball-Reference or NBA Stats.