Kyrie Irving on initial thoughts when he paired alongside Luka Doncic for the first time: "Let's get this party started"
Dallas Mavericks superstar duo Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic played their first game together on Saturday in a 133-128 loss against the Sacramento Kings. Despite the defeat, they seemed to gel well with each other and had plenty of fun.
Irving and Doncic showed flashes of how dynamic they can be, but the chemistry was there from the get-go. Irving reflected on the initial thoughts he had while playing alongside his new All-Star teammate, saying (via Brad Townsend):
“Oh, let’s get this party started.”
I asked Irving was he was feeling at the start of the game, playing with Doncic. “Oh, let’s get this party started” … he said. Then he elaborated. https://t.co/0ikWxszGcM
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic's pairing could have tremendous upside. They are two of the best guards in the league and have a complete offensive package. Irving and Doncic are almost unguardable in one-on-one situations, making them one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic post similar stat lines in debut game together
There's been a lot of uncertainty as to whether Irving and Doncic would fit together as teammates. Irving has proved his pedigree to play off the ball, but Doncic is yet to display that he can adapt to playing alongside a co-star. However, if their first game is anything to go by, the Mavericks' new All-Star backcourt could be among the most unstoppable duos in the league.
In their first game together, both players produced similar stat lines. Kyrie had 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Doncic bagged 27 points, along with nine rebounds and seven assists. They had equal shot attempts (21), displaying that they could be cohesive, despite their somewhat similar skillset.
The two players also showed a willingness to play off each other, which is vital to their success. The Mavericks rotated them well to maximize the advantage of having two All-Stars playing together.
Luka Doncic will have to continue making sacrifices and developing his skills off the ball with Kyrie Irving on the team. Both players can thrive in the clutch with the rock in their hands, so that's one area they will need to figure out things to make their pairing work.
Doncic has been the go-to guy for Jason Kidd in crunch situations, but with a talent like Irving, the Mavericks need to keep their options open moving forward. They didn't make the adjustment in their loss to the Kings. The Mavs were down three with 14 seconds left in overtime. Irving had a hot hand, but Doncic took a 3-point shot and missed.
Luka Doncic admitted he should've given the ball to Kyrie Irving in that situation. Nevertheless, it was only their first game together. The two superstars understand the game well and are likely to develop a better rapport as they get more time together.