Kyrie Irving’s trade to the Dallas Mavericks was one of the significant moves of the 2022-23 NBA season. His partnership with Luka Doncic in the backcourt was highly anticipated but ultimately fell short, with the team not making the playoffs. However, the 31-year-old guard has signed a three-year, $126 million extension with the side and is determined to prove himself in the new season.
In a recent interview on the “Locked On Mavericks” podcast with Nick Angstadt and Isaac Harris, Irving spoke about the reasons behind his lucrative extension with Dallas. He suggested that his defensive skills against teammate Luka Doncic might have played a part, saying, “I feel like I’m one of the guys that guards Luka the best. That’s probably why I’m on this team.”
While the Mavericks’ performance last season was disappointing, the decision to sign Irving to an extension and continue building chemistry with Doncic could pay dividends. The team will be hoping that the pair can live up to their potential as one of the best backcourt duos in the league and lead them to the playoffs.
Several factors contributed to the Mavericks’ struggles last season, but the organization is optimistic that retaining key players like Irving will provide a solid foundation for a playoff push. With a full season under their belts, the backcourt duo of Irving and Doncic will be expected to improve and develop their on-court chemistry.
As the new NBA season approaches, the pressure will be on Kyrie Irving to justify his contract extension and prove that he can help turn the Mavericks’ fortunes around. Fans will be watching closely to see if the partnership with Luka Doncic can reach the heights that were expected at the time of the trade.
