The Dallas Mavericks were having the run of a lifetime in 2022. Behind Luka Doncic's playoff heroics, the team was able to make it all the way to the Conference Finals. Unfortunately for them, they ran into a yellow buzz saw named the Golden State Warriors. They were able to take one game off, but ultimately were eliminated in five games.

Despite the loss, one Mavs legend remained proud of his former team. Dirk Nowitzki, the OG European Dallas star before Luka Doncic, congratulated the team on a job well done. The legendary star echoed the sentiments of many fans after this loss when he said:

To be quite frank, the Mavs weren't supposed to make it this far in the playoffs. Under new head coach Jason Kidd, it was expected that this team would take a year or two to gel together. Trading away Kristaps Porzingis all but signaled that this team would be playing for next season. Oh, how naïve we were.

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All the Mavs needed was to get Luka Doncic into the playoffs. Once he was there, the Slovenian phenom shined brightly. Doncic went toe-to-toe against some of the best teams in the Western Conference. He almost single-handedly dismantled the reigning Western Conference champions Phoenix Suns in seven games.

Doncic also gave the Warriors a run for their money till the bitter end. The Mavs star did everything he could to keep his team in striking distance. Ultimately, though, the Warriors' championship pedigree shone through. Not even Luka's magic could save his team from their eventual demise.

This isn't the end for the Mavs, though. Far from it: they have shown that they can make it deep into the post-season despite their flaws. With a busy offseason ahead of them, the future is bright in Dallas.