"We have a young team outside of him" - 32-year-old Kyrie Irving catches strays from Luka Doncic with ageism jokes
With the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant bowing out early in the NBA playoffs, Kyrie Irving has suddenly become one of the vintage players still playing in the NBA playoffs. While that's not talked about enough, Irving's younger co-star, Luka Doncic, ensured that this fact didn't go unnoticed.
During his post-game press conference after Dallas' 124-103 NBA Finals berth-sealing win in Game 5 over the Timberwolves on Thursday, Doncic cracked up reporters with an ageism joke targeted at Irving.
"I think we have a young team outside of Kyrie. Kyrie's getting old," Doncic said as he discussed the difference between the 2022 and 2024 Mavericks' teams.
Kyrie Irving, 32, is the oldest starter and second-oldest player on the roster, alongside Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber and Tim Hardaway Jr. Markieff Morris is the oldest on the roster at 34, while Luka Doncic, at 25, is on the younger side.
Irving is the more experienced in playing a prominent role as a star. He has been on a championship-winning team in 2016, leading next to LeBron James, a No. 1 option on the Boston Celtics, with their current core between 2017 and 2019 and a co-star with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn between 2019 and 2023.
Kyrie Irving has been the locker room leader for Luka Doncic's Mavericks
Kyrie Irving seems to be the missing piece needed next to a young star like Luka Doncic. After a rocky end to the 2022-23 season following Irving's addition, the Mavericks have bounced back, making a finals appearance after 13 years. Irving's impact on and off the court has been immeasurable.
He has taken younger players under his wing and guided the team through adversity in the postseason, especially Luka Doncic, who didn't have a clinical stretch in his first 10 games. Doncic averaged 26.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists but shot only 40.0%, including 26.0% from 3.
The Mavericks survived that stretch behind Irving's composed performances as the veteran guard tallied 21.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 5.8 apg, shooting on 50/43/84 splits. Irving maintained an ideal balance of playing passive-aggressive to help Doncic play out his struggles and eventually find his rhythm.
That paid off, as Luka Doncic averaged 31.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 8.9 apg while improving his shooting efficiency to 49.7%, including 45.7% from 3 in his last seven games. Not just Doncic, but players like Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington and Jaden Hardy are also under Irving's wing.
As one of the two players alongside Markieff Morris to play in finals before on the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving will be integral to the team's plans against the Boston Celtics, who the latter is familiar with.