According to NBA insider Marc Stein, “genuine fondness” exists between Dallas Mavericks stars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
The Mavericks are 32-26 when Doncic and Irving play. Dallas acquired Irving from the Brooklyn Nets last season.
“Multiple team sources indicate that there is a genuine fondness between the stars,” Stein wrote. “One recent example shared with The Stein Line: At a 25th birthday party for Dončić in Toronto last month, Irving was the last Maverick to close down the soirée with Luka at night’s end. One more example: Earlier this week, when the Mavericks held an optional practice for low-minute players to get in some extra work on the morning after another road win in San Antonio, both Irving and Dončić unexpectedly attended the session and played in the pickup games. They clearly enjoy each other’s company.”
The Mavericks are 41-29 on the season. They are in eighth place in the Western Conference standings.
Jason Kidd‘s group is sixth in the NBA in points per game and 22nd in points per game allowed.
Doncic is averaging 34.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 9.8 assists this season, while Irving is averaging 25.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2017 and was traded to the Boston Celtics. After two years in Boston, Irving signed with the Nets in the summer of 2019.
Irving appeared in 143 games with the Nets before getting traded to the Mavericks. The NBA champion requested a trade from Brooklyn.
Even though the Mavericks missed the play-in tournament last season, the front office re-signed Irving to a three-year, $126 million contract in July.
“Everywhere he turns,” said one league source well-versed on the Mavericks’ dynamics, “Kyrie sees people who like him and want the best for him.”
Irving hasn’t reached the NBA Finals since leaving LeBron James. It will be fascinating to see if Uncle Drew can win a championship with Doncic in Dallas.
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