LeBron James hints at Mavericks superstar he'd love to team up with

The Dallas Mavericks are set to face off against the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. The team seems poised to win their second NBA Championship, as this year's finals brings plenty of storylines.

Kyrie Irving and former Maverick Kristaps Porzingis have some bad blood with their former teams, specifically their fans. On the other hand, Luka Doncic and Jason Tatum will be looking for their first NBA Championship.

The Mavs will need Doncic and Irving to step up if they hope to win this year's title. Both players have been playing well this postseason, and they need to remain consistent if they want to win it all. Doncic is averaging 28.8 points per game, 9.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals this postseason.

Irving is also having a solid postseason. He averages 22.8 points per game. 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals. Irving and Doncic's heroic efforts helped Dallas seal the deal against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both players combined for 72 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists in Game 5. There is no question their relationship has reached new heights this season. The Dallas duo has connected through a variety of activities and spending time together, including playing spades.

LeBron James hints at teaming up with Kyrie Irving again

However, is it possible the Dallas duo could add another superstar?

Well, never say never. In a recent podcast session with former NBA player JJ Redick, LeBron James spoke about the playing style of Kyrie Irving and the mentality he brings to the game.

"Listen, I would call Kyrie "the wizard" all the time. There was nothing on the basketball floor that Kyrie couldn't do. "

- LeBron James

He also talked about the type of emotion Kyrie brings out of him. There is no doubt he misses having Kyrie as his teammate.

"I'm playing like I'm so (expletive) happy and so proud, to watch him continue his growth and whatever the case may be, and at the same time, I'm so (expletive) mad at the same time that I am not his running mate anymore. "

- LeBron James

LeBron would later compare Irving to a draw-four in UNO, stating that he is one of the most gifted players in the NBA who can take over a game differently. Some examples he uses to describe Kyrie include Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. James explains that the Mavs guard can turn it on at any moment and use his left hook to score over opponents.

There is no question that James and Irving will always have an undeniable connection. Last summer, it was rumored that Irving was trying to recruit James to Dallas. Although James was talking about the past with Irving, it's obvious that both sides would like to team up again eventually.

Even though those reports never came to fruition and Dallas didn't make a move for James, there is no denying James' ties to Dallas extend beyond Kyrie Irving. It's clear James would love to play with Doncic someday, and even called Doncic "his favorite player."

So you're saying there is a chance right?

Possibly. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst spoke with The Smoking Cuban last week to discuss LeBron's future and his ties to Dallas. He stated that even though it's unlikely James signs anywhere else besides Los Angeles, he has realized that "you should never rule anything out" when it comes to LeBron.

Also, if Mavs' fans learned anything with Nico Harrison at the head, it's that he isn't afraid to take chances on big-time players. It may not be in the Mavs' best interest to pursue a sign and trade for James considering how well they're playing right now, but his connection with Irving and Doncic could be enough for Harrison to consider it.

For all the latest on Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks throughout the rest of the 2024 NBA Playoffs and into the offseason, stay tuned.