Cavaliers Top Pick Kyrie Irving to Start in First NBA Game

Kyrie Irving shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. (REUTERS/Mike Segar ) (June 23, 2011)

By Ted Achladis FOX8.com Reporter

1:41 p.m. EST, December 26, 2011

CLEVELAND?

Following the team's morning shootaround in advance of Monday night's season opener, Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach Byron Scott told the assembled media that rookie Kyrie Irving would start at point guard in his first NBA game.

It had been anticipated by most pundits that fourth-year guard Ramon Sessions would run the point to start the year, allowing Irving to slowly become acclimated to the NBA game. However, Scott said he ultimately decided that the inexperienced second unit would benefit from Sessions' veteran leadership.

That means Irving, the Duke product and top overall pick in this past year's draft, will start right away. Sessions had started both preseason games.

Cleveland's other first-round lottery pick, Tristan Thompson, is expected to come off the bench.

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