The Dallas Mavericks underwent a significant transformation when they pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets, pairing him with Luka Doncic to create a dynamic duo last season. However, due to various challenges, including injuries, defensive shortcomings, and the need to rapidly build chemistry during crucial games, the immediate results were somewhat underwhelming.
Reflecting on their initial season together, Luka Doncic acknowledged the challenges they faced, saying, “He came in the middle of the season last year. We didn’t have much time [last season]. We went straight into playing games. It takes time to build chemistry, especially on the court. We will have the whole training camp and then the preseason, too. I think it’s going to be way better.”
Doncic emphasized the importance of their leadership role, explaining, “Just playing off each other. We’re the two leaders of the team. What we do, other people will follow, and we have to set an example, and that’s everybody. It’s not just us.”
Despite a 5-11 record in the 16 games they shared last season, there’s a sense of optimism for the upcoming season. While they showed promise together on the court, there were still some kinks to work out, particularly in clutch situations. Irving’s focus has been on enhancing the team’s dynamics, rather than disrupting them.
With an upgraded roster to support the two All-Stars, expectations for the Mavericks are high. The team is looking to address its defensive and rebounding shortcomings, which put immense pressure on their star players last season. Concerns about their ability to coexist are minimal among both the coaching staff and the players.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd stated, “As much as we like things that happen right away, we continue to grow that relationship. There is a relationship. They had the summer, and now they have a preseason to bond. But that’s the big question. Can they coexist? And it’s not that they don’t coexist. It’s the group around them. I think sometimes we are misinformed.”