By: Opinionated Reezy (Ronald Stovall)

I was recently at an event where I was celebrated for being the number two man on the team. I’m the chief of staff, the field commander, operations officer. I am not man who get the attention, but everyone knows and recognizes who gets the work done and it got me thinking about Kyrie Irving, stay with me for a bit… His first year with the Celtics is eerily similar to his first Lebron Cavaliers year.

Tell me if this doesn’t sound familiar:

• A team is assembled with three stars all of varied potential

• That team goes on to higher than expected gains during the season

• Two of the stars go down during the season

• One star proceeds to do great things in the post season

During the Cavalier run that individual was LeBron James. Kyrie Irving went down with a knee injury. The Cavaliers went to the finals that year but was not able to win. This year Kyrie is down again with a knee injury and now Jaylen Brown seems to be that X-Factor that determines the success of the Celtics. We knew who the number one was in the Cavalier scenario, but what about the Celtics? Should the Celtics really be this good without their number one?
We know how the story ends with the Lebron/Kyrie Cavaliers. They go on to win a championship and despite the outside influences both were appreciated for what they brought to the table.

Despite Kyrie not wanting to play with LeBron, the one thing no one can take away from him is the fact he is now a Champion and he earned that championship. It wasn’t a Darko Milicic victory cigar championship either. Here is the reality. There is no scenario where someone won a championship all by their self:

• Magic and Kareem had each other

• Bird and Parrish had each other

• Thomas and Dumars had each other

• Jordan and Pippen had each other

• Shaq and Kobe had each other

• Lebron and Wade had each other

Kyrie, when you win your next championship you will have someone with you. Whether you consider yourself to be number one or number two you will be part of a team bring great things to a city. If you wind up becoming number two again remember that you not little brother, kid, son, or any other moniker the analyst the outside forces will use to try and break up your paradigm, you are the chief of staff, the showman, the operations officer. Be comfortable with your place and win your championships.

There is a reason the spurs a model dynasty in the era of scrutiny and it is not because they worry about who is the head guy on the team.

Remember what is important and you will be successful!