Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Kyrie Irving is pumping the breaks on he and Luka Dončić’s place in NBA history.
The Dallas Mavericks duo has been instrumental in the team’s playoff run that is currently just a single win away from an NBA Finals appearance. The excellent play drew quite the compliment from ESPN announcer and former head coach Stan Van Gundy, who referred to Irving and Dončić as the “most talented backcourt in the history of the NBA.”
When asked about the claim, Irving was quick to shift focus to the bigger picture, saying the compliment “doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win a ring.”
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Kyrie knows him & Luka have something special but is focused on the bigger picture 💯 pic.twitter.com/V4D90LDplq
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Reporter: “When people talk about you and Luka [Doncic] as possibly the greatest backcourt in NBA history.”
Kyrie Irving: “Who said that? It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win a ring together, and I say that very responsibly too.”pic.twitter.com/fqJdxlQqQ1
Irving joined Dallas during the middle of the 2022-23 season and the team success didn’t translate immediately. Dallas missed out on the postseason and his future in the team as up in the air due to his free agent status.
He would elect to re-sign with the team and it has been a great decision so far. Irving averaged 25.6 points, 5.2 assists and five rebounds in 58 games. Dončić averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds in 70 games and the Mavericks went 50-32 and returned to the playoff field.
Dallas would then take down the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round and now will have four close-out opportunities against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
If Dallas manages to seal the victory, a Finals matchup with the Boston Celtics is likely in the cards as the Celtics currently lead the Eastern Conference 3-0. That would present a chance for Irving to get some revenge on his former team while also giving more credence to the claim of the Mavericks duo being legendary.
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