“I don’t see any risk” Mavericks GM sees no threat in pairing Kyrie Irving with Luka Doncic in the franchise
Nico Harrison, the GM of Dallas Mavericks does not think that pairing Luka Doncic with Kyrie Irving is a bad idea. Both players heaped praise for each other after their first and second games together.
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Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving
Many NBA pundits and teams have questioned the blockbuster pairing of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic in Dallas. Among the many reasons were Irving’s unavailability issues and their similar approach to the game. The postseason, on the other hand, is a bigger issue for the franchise. While many believe Irving and Doncic will manage to coexist throughout the regular season, come playoff time, the issue of ball handling will be magnified. Despite doubts and criticisms, Dallas Mavericks GM does not think pairing the two superstars is a problem.
The Mavericks acquired Irving in a trade a week ago, and they have had their share of success and failure since then. However, it is worth noting that since Doncic’s comeback from injury and both stars have shared the court, they have a 0-2 record. Despite this, when asked whether he saw any risk in trading for Irving, Mavs GM Nico Harrison denied it. “I don’t see any risk at all. I actually see risk in not doing it,” he answered.
So far, in four games for the Mavs, Irving has averaged 28.2 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. When questioned if he had any issues sharing the court and the ball with the young superstar, he stated that all he wants to do is play basketball and learn from one another. “While I was out there, it felt really special just in terms of the opportunities we had on both ends of the floor to really learn from one another and just gain some more confidence,” he addressed.
Luka Doncic heaps praise for his teammate Kyrie Irving after their first game together
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic shared the floor for the first time since the trade in the game against the Sacramento Kings. The game went overtime which ultimately resulted in Mavs’ loss. However, Doncic said it was only their first game together on the court, and they will figure it out as they move ahead. “It’s only our first game together, but I think it’s so fun to play with this guy,” the 23-year-old said. “He’s an amazing basketball player. I think it’s going to be really fun. Today, first game, it was really fun too,” he added.
Later, after their second game together, Doncic stated that they can be pretty lethal on the court together since they are both hard to guard in the game. “It’s still a learning process, but I think that could be really lethal for us,” he said of playing a two-man game with Irving. “It’s hard, I think, to guard both of us. So, there’s going to be less doubles and just us getting to work.” Regardless of what Doncic says, Jason Kidd will have to find a way to keep his two superstars productive on the court and devise a game plan around them.
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