- Irving did not eat or drink anything during the Islamic holy month
- He is performing well: an average of 25 points since Ramadan began days ago
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The Dallas Mavericks are making their best effort for star point guard Kyrie Irving as he continues to play for the team while also fasting as part of his celebration of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.
During the holy month – which began on March 10 – participants abstain from consuming food and water from sunrise to sunset. The practice is mandatory, with exceptions for people who are older, ill, pregnant or have other specific conditions.
For Irving, he’s been practicing this for years. But this year, the Mavericks decided to go the extra mile for him by flying in a private chef to help prepare vegan meals for the point guard to eat as soon as he’s allowed to break his fast.
A few days ago, Irving commented on the effort he’s putting in after hitting a miraculous game-winning shot to beat the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
‘Ramadan is a special month, so it’s a special time and yeah… you try not to think too much about the suffering and really focus on the journey with God and the path that you’re on and just stay focused on that stay and stay disciplined,” Irving told reporters.
The Dallas Mavericks fly in a private chef to make quick Ramadan meals for Kyrie Irving
Irving said it was “a miracle” for him to play at this level without any food or drink in him
Of course, Irving isn’t the only Muslim player fasting during Ramadan. Liverpool’s Mo Salah and last year’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo also did so last year
“It’s a difficult journey and… To be able to play for 48 minutes and do that without anything to drink or eat in my stomach is nothing short of a miracle.
“So there is certainly a universal God who protects me, and I must give Him the glory.”
In the five games Irving has played since Ramadan began, he has averaged 25 points and seven assists while shooting above 50 percent from the floor.
Irving is far from the only athlete who is Muslim, and many others celebrate the holiday in a similar fashion without food or drink.
Last year, as Ramadan took place in April, Liverpool FC star Mohamed Salah politely declined an offer of water as he was taken off the pitch in a defeat to Manchester City.
Another basketball example of fasting during Ramadan came from last year’s Final Four, where UConn’s Adama Sanogo was one of several players on the national championship-winning team who rejected food and drink.
Sanogo was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as the Huskies won a fifth national title.