Kyrie Irving's leadership for the Dallas Mavericks has been a frequently discussed topic during the 2023-24 season. With Irving set for another NBA Finals appearance, Luka Doncic is trusting in Kyrie's leadership given his Finals experience.
“I mean, his leadership is amazing,” Doncic said on Wednesday. “The way he connects us. I think me and Kyrie are the leaders of this team, but he's the one that's been in the Finals. He's the one that won in the Finals. He's the one that is really leading it. He's keeping us all together and motivated.”
Doncic is arguably the best player in the NBA. He finished third in NBA MVP voting and has been the best player in the NBA postseason so far. Still, Luka has yet to make his NBA Finals debut, something that will change on Thursday. Irving has a plethora of experience in basketball's championship series, however, so Doncic is willing to follow Irving into the NBA Finals.
Doncic also shared his thoughts on being able to watch Kyrie live in games and practice.
“Some things he's done, I mean, especially in practice, it's insane. The things he even tries in the game, it's insane. I never seen nobody make those shots. I don't see nobody try those shots. Obviously we know the handles. Just some shots are crazy. It's amazing just to experience this live.”
The Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving duo works
We have seen many super-teams and star-studded duos fail to work. Sometimes, the primary culprit is injuries. Other times, it can be a lack of chemistry or willingness to share the spotlight.
Doncic's comments provide the perfect example of the relationship the Mavs duo have. They are both willing to do whatever is best for the team. It does not matter who takes the last shot or gets most of the accolades. In the end, they believe in one another and in the team overall.
The Mavs had previously attempted to build around Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Although the duo displayed promise, the results failed to display themselves. Doncic was asked what went wrong while playing with Porzingis.
“I don't really know. I don't know why it didn't work out,” Doncic said. “We were still both young. We tried to make it work, but it just didn't work. So moved on.”
Porzingis is now on the Celtics, while Irving, who used to play in Boston, is Doncic's teammate in Dallas.
Mavericks vs. Celtics NBA Finals
This NBA Finals is expected to be one of the most exciting series in recent memory. There are plenty of intriguing storylines for both teams, with a number of players looking to build upon their already impressive legacies.
Boston is the favorite but Dallas has consistently upset the odds all postseason long. The Celtics understand that they cannot take the Mavericks for granted. Any team that features Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving is going to have an opportunity to win a series.
There have been quotes and discussions over the past week. But on Thursday, everything will come to fruition as the NBA Finals will officially begin in Boston. Game 1's tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 PM EST.
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