Kyrie Irving seems to be building toward something big

Remember all those clutch three-pointers that helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA title? Remember all those highlight-reel moments with the Duke Blue Devils that led him to be the No. 1 pick? Remember Uncle Drew?

All that might not be as red-hot as Kyrie Irving is this season as he's having another strong year, a playoff run that's still perfect in the first round -- he's never lost a first-round playoff game -- and the potential for a new huge contact wherever he wants to play next year. It's all seemingly building toward something big.

But don't take Buzz's word for it.

"Kyrie Irving is taking the Celtics to a new level" says GQ.

A new level might apply to his cardboard potential, too, despite already being a marquee name. He's presently on a team that's rich in history and eager to add more chapters to a book that already includes some of the greatest teams, players and coaches of all time. If the Boston Celtics win and he stays, he's primed for future looks with a dedicated fan base. If he goes elsewhere and goes somewhere big, the spotlight will be his -- both in his new city and perhaps beyond.

The 27-year-old Panini America-exclusive star has appeared on more than 5,000 different cards since his arrival in 2012-13 boxes. He has 29 standard-definition Rookie Cards from that year in everything from Absolute to Totally Certified and upwards of 600 total cards that first go-round alone if you include inserts and ink.

>> Click here to see Kyrie Irving autos on eBay

In total, he's got more than 1,400 different autographs for collectors to chase, everything from stuff in low-end brands to brand-new-car-high-end rarities. His National Treasures rookie patch autos are leaders among both completed sales and asking prices. Ink isn't all that necessary, either, as Prizm rarities in high grades can command more. Even his standard Silver Prizm RC parallels are going for $700-plus if in PSA 10 grade -- and that's way up in recent weeks as 10-card PSA 10 lots had sold for less than $375 total in early March.

Heck, even hot boxes with his name on them not from his rookie year can sell for hefty amounts -- in part because he's in there but not solely. And that box is what brings us to his next foe this season.

The Celtics' next opponent? The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo -- another young star whose cardboard has had freakish appeal and is also readily available beginning with his Rookie Cards in 2013-14 boxes.

“We have played against Detroit, Milwaukee pretty often throughout the regular season, up and down with those guys," Irving told MassLive.com. "But now you get a chance to prepare. Now everyone knows each other’s plays and now it’s just about playing a great brand of basketball.”

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