Kristaps Porzingis is a player who has had a mixed season with the Dallas Mavericks. Porzingis had solid regular season averages of 20.1 PPG and 8.9 RPG while shooting 47.6% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc. While those are efficient enough splits for the regular season, Porzingis didn’t perform well in the playoffs, and his lack of offensive output forced Luka Doncic to pick up a heavier load on that end of the floor.
ESPN analyst Tim MacMahon believes that Kristaps Porzingis being able to become that second star next to Luka Doncic. If Porzingis is able to do that, then the Dallas Mavericks will have a much higher ceiling than they did this season.
But really so much of this is depending on Kristaps Porzingis emerging as that legitimate second star. There’s been some awkwardness with him and Luka. You know Porzingis certainly wasn’t utilized the way that he wanted to be, the way he hoped to be. But he has a healthy offseason, he has as much to prove as arguably any max player in the NBA. And I really think so much of the Mavericks’ success, uh it depends on Porzingis proving that he is worth that contract. And that he can be that complimentary star next to Luka.
There is no question that Luka Doncic needs some help on the offensive end, and Kristaps Porzingis having a bounceback year would be part of the solution. There’s no question that Kristaps Porzingis is a talented player, but he needs to become more consistent and take the next step in his development.
The Dallas Mavericks have a solid enough team around Luka Doncic, and they will be looking to make a deep playoff run next season. Hopefully, Kristaps Porzingis can show that he can be a star next season, and help make the Mavericks’ goals into a reality.
