Mavericks Point Guard Kyrie Irving accept a deal of $135 million to leave…
Although Irving’s star continued to shine, his time in Boston and Brooklyn overshadowed much of his impact during Dallas’ surprising journey to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Irving’s playoff stats of 23.8 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds through the first three rounds are impressive, but his influence and leadership have won over those who doubted him, especially during his tenure with the Nets.
When Brooklyn traded Irving to Dallas in February 2023, headlines in New York read things like, “He’s your headache now,” “You can Mav him,” and “Good riddance.” Yet, less than 18 months later, the Mavericks appear to be the clear beneficiaries of the trade.
Rumors had linked Irving to the Lakers after he reportedly requested a trade from Brooklyn, but Mavericks GM Nico Harrison acted quickly to secure the eight-time All-Star.
At the time of the trade, I rated the Mavericks’ move as a B+ due to Irving’s injury history and impending free agency. Had I known Irving would re-sign with the team, I would have given it an A.
My optimism was based on the fact that Irving immediately became the best teammate Doncic had ever had, and Dallas showed a commitment to rising above mediocrity in the Western Conference.
After another season and several additional moves, the Mavericks have ascended to a higher level of contention and are now competing in their third NBA Finals.
Initial reactions to the trade were not overwhelmingly positive. Given Irving’s previous trade requests and broken promises, there were concerns about how effective his time in Dallas would be.
However, Irving’s performance with the Mavericks has certainly proven to be impactful.
