Getty Image / Ron Jenkins
Embattled NBA Star Kyrie Irving is one of the most talented players in the NBA. When he cares about basketball, there are few players that can match his combination of speed, handles, finishing and shooting.
And, Luka Doncic may be the most gifted offensive player in the league right now, and one of the most gifted of all time. The young Slovenian is headed towards his fourth straight NBA First Team selection and is averaging 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists on over 50% shooting.
So, after Kyrie Irving demanded a trade from the Brooklyn Nets before the trade deadline, Irving was sent to the Mavericks
FULL TRADE DETAILS:
Nets receive:
Spencer Dinwiddie
Dorian Finney-Smith
2029 1st-round pick
Multiple 2nd-round picksMavericks receive:
Kyrie IrvingWow, wow, wow. pic.twitter.com/aU1rZjVJR3
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 5, 2023
Doncic was battling an injury for the first few games that Kyrie was in Dallas, but now they have been together for five games, and the early returns are not good. The Mavs were 1-3 with both players on the floor heading into Sunday’s clash against the Los Angeles Lakers.
It looked like that record would improve to 2-3. Dallas led by 27 points, 48-21, midway through the 2nd quarter. But, they choked. Behind 30 points from Anthony Davis and 26 from LeBron, they stormed back to win, 111-108.
Mark Cuban's face after AD hit the clutch bucket 😐
The Mavs blew a 27-point lead to the Lakers in the loss. pic.twitter.com/oL14p5z1XR
— ESPN (@espn) February 26, 2023
Now, Dallas sits at just 32-30, a half-game out of slipping to the play-in, and just two games back of missing the postseason altogether.
Clearly, the Kyrie-Luka tandem isn’t working. They better get it together quickly, or it will be a humiliating end to the season.