Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have had a fruitful partnership this season with the Dallas Mavericks. The team is 22-15 and looks like a genuine playoff threat, with the backcourt of Irving and Doncic being impossible to stop. After the Mavs beat the No. 1 seed Minnesota Timberwolves 115-108 on Sunday night, Kyrie opened up on his relationship with Doncic.
“I respect that kid, and how he goes about his business every day, and even if he’s on a bad wheel, he still plays. You have to really give credit to a guy like that, setting records and being his teammate; it’s a pleasure, man. It’s an honor. It makes the game easier. And I know he has the same things to say about me, about making the game easier for one another.”
We haven’t heard Kyrie talk this glowingly about a teammate before, but Irving went on to discuss his improving familiarity with who Doncic is as a person and team leader.
“I’m learning every day, and I don’t think a year is enough to say you know someone very well, but I can say that from my observations and being on trips with him and us being together in the locker room and at practice and just little times where we find space to talk to one another as leaders on the team.”
Irving praised the level at which he and Doncic perform, while also commending Doncic for the historic numbers he’s putting up this season while carrying the team during a 24-day injury absence for Kyrie.
“He’s a great player. I’m a great player. He’s having an unbelievable season. So I try to encourage him, make sure I remind him that I see him carrying our team. He’s been doing it with me out.”
Luka is averaging 33.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 9.2 assists this season, competing for the MVP trophy provided the Mavs can have a better record. Kyrie isn’t playing at an MVP level but has been a crucial secondary piece next to Luka, averaging 23.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
Luka Doncic Is Loving Playing With Kyrie Irving
It was reported last season that Doncic was one of the Mavericks who pushed the front office to make the deal to acquire Kyrie last winter when many thought it wouldn’t be a tenable fit. Even with the growing pains the pair have had together, it seems they’ve figured out how to feed off each other and respect the other’s game on the court.
Luka emphasized how much the Mavs need Irving after their win over the Wolves on Sunday night, while also completing how easily Irving can impact the game offensively.
“Yeah, it was great, always been great, always stays aggressive. He’s an amazing player, so we need him; everybody needs him to be just aggressive every time. It’s Kai, man; it’s easy to trust him with the ball to get a bucket. In the end, when he made two 3-pointers, he told me he was tired, so I had to get the ball, but we’re just letting him cook.”
This partnership is solidifying itself as the best backcourt in the NBA. If the Mavericks can continue winning games after struggling with injury all throughout this season, relying on Luka to carry them, they could be a fearsome matchup in the West.
Both guards are defending at a high level right now, giving the Mavs a top-3 defense in the NBA over the last 10 games. This duo is elevating the Mavs to heights we haven’t seen in the Luka era up until now.
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