Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have been on a tear of late and they helped the Dallas Mavericks secure a spot in the playoffs on Tuesday with a 130-104 win over the Charlotte Hornets. After the game, Doncic spoke glowingly of his co-star, even going as far as to say it has been a blessing to have Irving in Dallas.
“Having Kyrie here has been a blessing,” Doncic said. “I always say, on the court, everybody knows what kind of player he is. Just off the court, he helps me a lot, not just me (but also) the whole team. He knows how to win the championship. He’s a very humble guy. Great guy. On the court and off the court, it’s just been a blessing to be with him.”
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It was thought that the Mavericks were taking a huge risk when they acquired Irving from the Brooklyn Nets in 2023. The eight-time All-Star had caused some problems at his previous pit stops, but there has been nothing of that sort during his time in Dallas.
Irving has been the consummate professional, with Doncic and the rest of the team routinely singing his praises. We can all see how good the 32-year-old has been on the court, with averages of 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, but he has clearly had a positive impact on the team off it as well.
The Mavericks’ gamble has certainly paid off, as of now, and Irving has helped them win 15 of their last 17 games to improve to 49-30 on the season. They are the hottest team in the NBA right now and are peaking at the right time, with the playoffs just around the corner.
Are Luka Doncic And Kyrie Irving The Best Duo In The League?
The Mavericks’ recent hot streak has led to an NBA executive claiming Doncic and Irving are the best duo in the league.
“Luka and Kyrie are the best duo in the NBA. Their chemistry on the court is off the charts. They complement each other so well, and they genuinely like each other.”
When you consider who else is in the conversation, I don’t think it is an outlandish claim. Some of the other great duos you think of are LeBron James-Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant-Devin Booker, Kawhi Leonard-Paul George, and Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray.
I do think Doncic and Irving as a duo have performed better than all of them since the All-Star break. Teams have just had no answer for them and this executive also stated that he doesn’t see a defense stopping them in a seven-game series.
It’s why this individual believes the Mavericks will make a deep playoff run, and I can see them making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. The only team in the West that I would definitively back to beat the Mavericks would be the Denver Nuggets. Against everyone else, I do believe they would have a chance.
Irving and Doncic are a big reason why, but their supporting cast isn’t too shabby, either. PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford have proven to be excellent trade deadline-day acquisitions, as they have helped address issues with regard to rebounding and defense. The Mavericks just seem like a very well-balanced outfit now and I can’t wait to see them in action in the postseason.
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