“No pressure” Kyrie Irving rules out coexistence issue with Mavericks’ star Luka Doncic following his move from Nets
Kyrie Irving emphasized that there is no pressure playing alongside Luka Doncic and heaped praise on his new teammate after sharing the court for the first time
Follow Us
Kyrie and Doncic
This NBA trade deadline was one of the wildest rollercoaster rides for NBA fans and teams. It saw a few of the biggest superstars in the league on the move. However, for many, Kyrie Irving getting traded to the Dallas Mavericks was one of the weirdest of all trades that were made. Many have questioned his pairing with Luka Doncic and if they would gel on the court.
Both players are excellent ball handlers. While they have high efficiency from within and beyond the line, they also need the ball in their hands to make the best of the possession. Addressing the questions about playing alongside the Slovenian star, Irving stated that there is no pressure on him. He also remarked that all he wants to do is play basketball. “As much as I can lead alongside him willing to do, there is no pressure here, nothing is forced with me and him. I just want to play basketball and enjoy his talent and enjoy my teammates’ talent and work towards the championship,” he said.
The Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings faced each other on Saturday, with the former Nets superstar and Doncic sharing the court for the first time. Both players had nearly the same field goal attempts and made shots. Irving made 11 of 21 attempts and finished with 28 points. Doncic, on the other hand, made 11 of 20 shots from the field and finished with 27 points. Despite their strong outing together, the Mavericks lost the game 128-133 in overtime.
Related: Fans argue over Kyrie Irving gifting Floyd Mayweather special Mavericks debut jersey
Kyrie Irving showers praise for teammate Luka Doncic after sharing the court for the first time
The pace at which Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic play basketball is one of the most noticeable differences between them. While Irving moves at breakneck speed with the ball in his hands, Doncic plays the game at his own pace to create shots and space for himself.
Giving the Slovenian props, the new Mavericks recruit said, “[Luka plays] at a pace that I don’t think has ever been seen before other than Larry Bird. Or I think somebody else that just plays at their own pace scores a bunch of points and is constantly in that MVP conversation.”
The eight-time all-star stated that since his teammate commands so much attention on the offensive end of the court, it is his job to make his job easier. “He commands that much attention so much as I can alleviate for him,” said Irving. However, despite his comments, it remains to be seen how the superstars gel for the rest of the season.
In Case You Missed:
Nick Wright hates witnessing Kyrie Irving being compared to Luka Doncic
Do follow us on Google News | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Stay Updated!
Nandjee Ranjan
(488 Articles Published)