The vibe surrounding the Dallas Mavericks completely changed after they made a blockbuster trade in February to acquire star guard Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets.
Luka Doncic had never had a co-star of his caliber, and the Mavs landed one of the NBA's most skilled players ever in this trade.
Dallas sent Brooklyn Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and multiple draft picks for Irving and Markieff Morris. The Mavs re-signed Kyrie and Morris this offseason, and now they hope to have a better season this year after disappointingly tanking the last two games of the season and missing the playoffs previously.
Irving will be a massive part of what Dallas does this season, and hopefully, everyone around him and Doncic can play their roles and help them contend for a title.
Kyrie is well-liked by his peers in the NBA, and one former guard had massive praise for him in an appearance on a talk show.
7-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard was on "It Is What It Is" on September 19, and he gave Irving a compliment that will make Mavs fans realize just how good Irving is (if they haven't already).
"Kyrie really different...He got the most beautiful game in NBA history," Lillard said.
This is a massive compliment from one of the best point guards in the NBA, and Lillard's comment isn't super far-fetched either. Kyrie has one of the smoothest games in the NBA, and his peers notice that.
Whether he is making an acrobatic reverse layup, crossing over two defenders and dropping a dime, or taking over a game in the fourth quarter, Irving makes it look easy. He makes plays that no one else in NBA history can make, and he will continue to display that this season in Dallas.
Damian Lillard has played Irving for countless years since entering the NBA and is known as one of the best point guards of the last decade. Although it is unknown where Lillard will play next season, the matchup between him and Irving will be a must-watch game.
We'll have you covered with all the latest news and rumors surrounding Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks this summer, so stay tuned.