Dirk Nowitzki just wrapped up his 21st and final season with the Dallas Mavericks, but it is only fitting that another star European big man is preparing to take up his mantle with the Mavs.
Kristaps Porzingis will make his debut in Dallas this season after the team acquired him from the New York Knicks in February, and he figures to be a vital piece as the Mavs continue to rebuild.
Although the Mavs might not be ready to compete against the top teams in the Western Conference just yet, the combination of Porzignis and Luka Doncic reminds Dallas president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson of a time when they were one of the best teams in the NBA.
Nelson told Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News that he thinks about the days of Nowtizki and Steve Nash when he sees Doncic and Porzingis on the floor together:
“When you start out with a small forward who plays point guard, essentially, with his size and skillset, it certainly makes it easier to look over defenses,” Nelson said of Doncic. “It certainly makes everyone better on the floor.
“Obviously K.P. gives us another option. He's also a gifted passer and stretches defenses. It reminds me of the days when we first got here, with Dirk and Nash. This next year is going to be really fun to watch the entire team, but guys that have those abilities, it's rare. And to watch it kind of come together is part of the fun of what we do.”
Nash and Nowitzki both made their first All-Star team in 2002, and they seemed to continually grow and gel together on the floor. Unfortunately, they were never able to get to the NBA Finals.
The Mavs are undoubtedly hoping that Doncic and Porzingis have a similar effect on one another.
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