A smile creased Kevin Durant’s face at the mere mention of the second-year star.

It’s not often that happens when Durant discusses opponents.

But that’s the level of admiration the three-time scoring champion has for Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, the reigning Rookie of the Year who Durant already deems a top-five talent at his position and a player he says he’d pay to see play.

“Everybody can see how exciting he is to watch,” Durant said. “His handle, his jump shot, his savvy, his poise, he’s just a big-game player.”

“I like young guys, because I was one of those guys, 20 years old trying to establish yourself,” Durant said. “And to be an All-Star in your second year, that’s stuff that doesn’t happen on the regular so I’ve got a lot of praise for him.”

Irving is the sixth-youngest player (20 years, 331 days) in league history to be named to an All-Star team. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he’s one of only seven players in NBA history to be selected before turning 21.

via Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman