Luka Doncic’s bold Kyrie Irving quote breaks Mavericks fans' hearts all over again

No matter how much Luka Doncic wants to put it behind him, his time in Dallas will always confront him in some shape, form, or fashion. Doncic formed close-knit relationships with many players during his Dallas tenure. But the bond he formed with Kyrie Irving on and off the court was something special in itself.

Doncic was recently reminded of that bond when he acknowledged on Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady’s podcast “Cousins” that he had the best on-court chemistry with none other than Kyrie Irving.

McGrady asked Doncic who he considered his best on-court teammate. A somber Doncic replied, “I’ve always said Kyrie… It took us some time. He came in the middle of the season that year… we weren't good. We didn’t have the chemistry we had next year… That preseason helped us a lot. And that team that we had, we went to the finals.”

McGrady probed further, asking, “Have you seen anyone with that skillset that Ky has?” Doncic seemed to be reminiscing before he ruefully smiled and said, “No.” Doncic’s answer was quick and to the point. Nothing more needed to be said. We all can feel the pain behind those words.

Doncic admitting Irving was his best teammate will be a sore spot for Dallas fans

Dallas has moved on from the Anthony Davis disaster by trading him, and they are working hard to clean up their books by acquiring expiring contracts and stocking up on draft capital. This includes a Lakers 2029 first-round pick. This cracks open the door for a Dallas-Doncic reunion down the line because Doncic has an opt-out clause in his Laker contract in 2028.  

But talk about heartbreak. Dallas fans are left with feelings of what could have been. And Doncic is left with what feels like an incomplete chapter in an already storied career. You can almost see the wistfulness in Doncic’s face when he talks about his time in Dallas. His brotherhood with Irving.    

Doncic has formed many tandems throughout the years and seen many teammates come and go during his seven seasons in Dallas. These are the paces of NBA life. The highs and lows. The travel. The team bonding. And the inevitability of teammates who have become friends getting traded. 

But the Luka-Kyrie tandem was something different. You knew they were going to be electric together. They were both showmen in their own right. “Uncle Drew” and “Luka Magic”. But what they meant to each other’s careers was more than meets the eye. They transformed each other. 

They came into each other’s lives at a time when they needed each other the most. Irving’s reputation was in tatters due to a combination of flat-earth beliefs, opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine mandates (which limited his game availability), and accusations of promoting antisemitic material. 

Doncic had his own issues. After morphing into a perennial All-NBA performer and top 5 talent in the league, critics believed he was too ball-dominant and incapable of playing with another all-star-caliber player. He came into the league as a wide-eyed European media darling, but after multiple playoff failures, he was quickly becoming the villain of his own story.

So when they made their improbable run to the 2024 NBA Finals in just their first full NBA season together, it seemed like the sky was the limit. Dallas fans felt their second franchise NBA title was just around the horizon. 

Doncic and Irving were also forging an alliance that was deeper than basketball. Everyone could see it. They appreciated what they had done for each other. Irving was no longer a pariah. He’s been an exemplary leader and teammate since his arrival. And he’s exuded an air of professionalism since day 1 in Dallas. And Doncic showed that he indeed could play with another star player, and that he was willing to give up the ball and trust his teammates. 

The on-court camaraderie, the post-game pressers. All the ingredients were there to cook up a gumbo that would make any NBA fan salivate.

Then disaster struck. Nico Harrison’s lack of patience with Doncic's yo-yo training methods spurred him to destroy everything Dallas had worked so hard to build. Luka was traded, and then Irving tore his ACL in his left knee. And to add insult to injury, Anthony Davis could never stay healthy. He was the salt in the wound. 

For Dallas fans, it’s a deep wound that has yet to heal. A grievous betrayal that needs to be made right. Dallas co-interim general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi seem very focused on rebuilding Dallas’ roster around budding star Cooper Flagg and rebuilding trust with their fan base. One step at a time. But bringing Luka home would be a homerun hit with all the bases loaded.

Coincidentally, Doncic’s recent statements about Irving show that anything’s possible. A fondness for Irving and Dallas remains. Because some bonds are bigger than basketball.