Kristaps Porzingis on why pairing with Luka Doncic didn’t yield results for Dallas Mavericks: “I just wasn’t the right guy”
When Kristaps Porzingis went from the New York Knicks to the Dallas Mavericks in 2019 the future looked bright for Dallas’ new dynamic duo. Acquiring Porzingis gave their new young star, Luka Doncic, a capable No. 2 option to take some pressure off. Despite the two having good statistics while playing together, the partnership ultimately did not work.
While with the Mavericks, Porzingis averaged 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Being a power forward who also spent time at center should have given the team a good combo with Doncic at point guard distributing the ball. Porzingis’ ability to shoot from the outside should also have freed up floor space for Luka to work with the ball.
Part of the reason the two stars didn’t realize their full potential as a duo was that Porzingis had a few injuries that limited their time together on the court. In speaking with Yahoo Sports, Porzingis shared some of his thoughts on his time in Dallas.
“On paper, it would be the perfect fit, but it just didn’t mesh the way that we wanted to,” Kristaps Porzingis said. "We just did not mesh together well. Sometimes, it’s like that in the workplace, you know? It just didn’t work out the way you expected.
“I just wasn’t the right guy.”
Kristaps Porzingis says he wasn’t the right guy to team up with Luka Doncic 🗣️ https://t.co/6KhYI4vclq
The idea of two European players whose games appear to complement each other seems like it should have worked. Kristaps Porzingis appears to have found a home in Washington with the Wizards, forming his dynamic duo with guard Bradley Beal.
Luka Doncic needs help in Dallas
The Dallas Mavericks are 12-11, all on the back of star point guard Luka Doncic. He is leading the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. Although some of his supporting cast is good, there is no second star on the team. Spencer Dinwiddie, Christian Wood and Tim Hardaway Jr. are good support players but not guys who can be counted on to take over for any extended period of time.
If Doncic is out for any extended period of time, the Mavericks could be in danger of not making the playoffs. They currently have the ninth-best record in the Western Conference. If they were to maintain that status, they would land in the play-in tournament.
Doncic’s 33.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 8.5 assists per game should have him in a MVP conversation and the team trying to host a playoff series come the spring. Right now, it has them close to the outside looking in.