The Dallas Mavericks had a remarkable season, with Luka Doncic leading them to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011, when they famously beat the Miami Heat for the championship. Despite the loss to the Boston Celtics, a Mavs legend and champion shared a heartfelt message of support for Doncic.
Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki appeared on the DLLS Mavs Podcast to encourage Luka after the tough Finals loss and to encourage him to continue the way he is doing.
Mark Cuban reveals how Doncic, Irving led Mavs to the Finals
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban provided insights on the Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving duo and how their partnership propelled Dallas to the Finals during an appearance on The Roommates Show. According to Cuban, the foundation of their success was built in the offseason.
Cuban emphasized the impact of Doncic and Irving’s chemistry on the rest of the team. “Not only did they figure out how to play off each other, but they elevated everyone around them,” he said. “Guys like PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively all saw improvements. It was special to watch how they lifted the entire squad.”
Kyrie Irving gets real about NBA Finals loss
During a recent Twitch stream, the former Brooklyn Nets guard, Kyrien Irving, discussed the Mavericks’ Finals loss to the Celtics and his own performance. “Last year was definitely disappointing from the standpoint of not winning the Finals as a team and coming up short,” Irving admitted. “We got there for a reason. Blood is definitely in the water.”
Irving also acknowledged that his play in the latter part of the season wasn’t up to his usual standards. “I’m always going to take accountability, and it starts with me,” Irving said during the stream. “I didn’t play my best at all down the stretch, and it’s been eating me alive in a healthy way. I’ve been staying motivated. We’re gonna be back. Just gonna have fun and take it day by day. But losing f— sucks, though.”
