Paul Pierce On Luka Doncic And Kyrie Irving: 'The Best Offensive Duo In NBA History'

Pierce shared that Irving and Doncic have averaged 57.4 points per game combined when they've played together this season. Only James Harden and Russell Westbrook in 2019 (60.7 points per game) had a higher scoring average than them in a single campaign.

While that is impressive, I think Pierce jumped the gun a bit there. As great as Doncic and Irving are, I don't believe they belong at the top. I would have Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant-Stephen Curry ahead of them, for sure. 

For starters, those duos actually won multiple titles together, which I believe should count for something. Also, Kyrie, for me, isn't as consistent a scorer as the other four, which brings him and Doncic down a notch. I think a case can also be made for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to be ahead of them as well.

If Doncic and Irving end up winning titles together, then they will have an argument to be at the top. They have a real chance at winning one this year too, after leading the Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals. They have proven a lot of their doubters wrong in the process, and funnily enough, Pierce used to be one of them.

As the Mavericks were struggling at the end of last season, Pierce claimed Doncic and Irving couldn't work together. He added, though, that maybe they just needed some more time, which has proven to be the case.

The two of them led the Mavericks to a 50-32 record this season, which was good enough to finish as the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Doncic put up impressive averages of 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game along the way. Irving, meanwhile, averaged 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. 

Luka Doncic Showered Kyrie Irving With Praise After Winning Game 1 Against The Timberwolves

Doncic and Irving faced their toughest challenge since teaming up when the Mavericks took on the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. They managed to lead Dallas to a 108-105 win and afterward, Doncic showed a lot of love to Irving.

Luka stated that the Mavericks would have been down 20 at halftime if not for Irving and they probably would have been. The eight-time All-Star scored 24 points in the first half to ensure that they were within touching distance of the Timberwolves.

Doncic then took over in the second half with 19 points to ensure that the Mavericks came away with the win. That game was in some ways, a good representation of what we have seen these two in the playoffs. They haven't always been at their best, but have come through when it mattered most.