The Dallas Mavericks were hopeful after acquiring Kyrie Irving before the 2023 NBA trade deadline. The thought of Irving playing alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas had fans dreaming of a possible deep playoff run. Instead, the team fell short of their expectations and missed the postseason altogether. Doncic and Irving are primed to lead the Mavs to a bounce-back campaign in 2023-24.
Irving is a point guard with impressive playmaking ability. He also can consistently knock down shots from beyond the arc. Luka is a versatile player, capable of running the point but also can find success off the ball.
Together, the duo has the potential to be not just one of the best duos but the best duo in the NBA. The Mavs will need production from their entire roster. Depth is key without question. Let’s look closer at why Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will specifically lead the Mavericks to a playoff-caliber season.
Luka has been about as consistent as anyone in the league over the past five years. For his career, he’s averaged 27.6 points per game. Additionally, Doncic has a career average of 8.0 assists and 8.6 rebounds. In 2022-23, he posted 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game.
However, as mentioned earlier, the Mavs missed the playoffs after making a respectable run in 2021-22. The primary difference was that Jalen Brunson left prior to the 2022-23 campaign. As talented as Doncic is, he needs another star to play alongside. Enter Kyrie Irving.
Yes, things didn’t go according to plan after Dallas acquired Irving from the Brooklyn Nets. Irving also only received half a season with the Mavs. With Kyrie preparing for a full year in Dallas, he and Doncic will be able to develop better chemistry. If they figure things out, Dallas will be extremely dangerous.
Brunson was an excellent player for the Mavs and has continued to shine with the New York Knicks. However, Irving is just as good if not better. He averaged 27.1 points per game between Dallas and Brooklyn last year. Irving’s field goal and three-point efficiency also increased following the trade.
Both Irving and Doncic posted all-around strong, impressive individual numbers. Learning how to play together is crucial, though, and that’s why Mavericks fans should be looking forward to the upcoming campaign.
Dallas added some important depth players around the star-studded duo. The entire roster will need to help out, given how competitive the Western Conference is. The Phoenix Suns have only improved, while the Denver Nuggets aren’t going anywhere.
The Mavericks will be a sneaky contender, though. Irving and Doncic can battle any other duo in the league, and either one of them is capable of single-handedly leading a team to a victory on any given night.
Most importantly, Luka and Irving are not selfish players. They can both set up teammates for open looks, which will lead to flexibility within the offense. The Mavericks project to be one of the most exciting teams in the NBA heading into 2023-24.
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