5 Lessons the Dallas Mavericks can learn from 2022-23 season

3. Luka alone is not enough

The Mavs entered the season believing that any roster around Luka Doncic would be in the playoffs with a chance to win. Number 77 had a career-high usage after being asked to do it all early in the season. With Brunson gone, Dallas needed Doncic to make all the plays, and the Mavericks struggled whenever he went to the bench.

Luka’s insane usage coupled with the team’s reliance on him were reasons behind pulling off the Kyrie Irving trade. The move gave Dallas two superstars, but it too put extra burden on number 77. The Mavs' defense was nonexistent after the deal, which put more pressure on the offense. Dallas had to score every possession, and it made it difficult to win.

They call it a supporting cast for a reason. The Dallas Mavericks need to acquire players that complement their superstar. This becomes even more important if Kyrie Irving leaves in free agency. Dallas cannot expect Luka to do it all. He wants to play with other elite talents along with role players that can defend and sink open shots.

Luka Doncic is one of the best offensive creators in the world, and the Dallas Mavericks are going to score whenever he is on the floor. The team needs to put the right supporting cast around their 24-year-old superstar if they want to jump into title contention, and they cannot expect Doncic to do it all.