By Jamal Baker
NDG Contributing Writer
Greatness is never given to those who seek this type of glory in the sport of basketball—the elusive Larry O’Brien trophy is always earned. Whether it is Michael Jordan losing to the Bad Boy Pistons three straight seasons in the playoffs or Lebron James suffering two losses in The Finals before securing his first championship—both overcame heartbreak before reaching the mountaintop.
Luka Doncic is on the precipice of taking the next step in leading the Dallas Mavericks to their second championship in franchise history. After finishing last season as runner-ups to the Boston Celtics, the Mavericks have made key additions to a roster that is complete from top to bottom.
Klay Thompson signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks, ending his legendary tenure with the four-time champion Golden State Warriors. In his age 34 season, Thompson averaged 17.9 points—his lowest since 2012-13. Thompson has a chance to see more open looks than he is accustomed to as Doncic and Kyrie Irving demand the attention of an entire defensive gameplan.
“It was a no-brainer for us, especially after The Finals, we knew that we were a Klay Thompson away,” general manager Nico Harrison said.
Harrison was busy at work this summer shoring up the Dallas bench unit by also adding Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes, and Spencer Dinwiddie. History suggests that moves made by Harrison will pay big dividends as he has helped the Mavericks reach two conference finals and the NBA Finals during his time as the architect of the roster. Fresh off a multi-year contract extension signed this summer, Harrison continues to prove why he is one of the best general managers in the league.
The development of sophomore center Dereck Lively II will be an x-factor for the championship contending Maverick squad. Lively II has expanded his game beyond the paint and will now be a threat to knock down the corner and top of the arc three-point shot. He also displayed feathery touch around the rim during the preseason while still providing the show stopping dunks and rebounding dominance showcased during his rookie season.
Head coach Jason Kidd deserves credit for building a culture of trust and being a true leader in the locker room. The most successful teams have great team chemistry and Kidd has harbored an environment where players simply enjoy playing with one another. Along with Harrison, Kidd also signed a multi-year contract extension—keeping the core of the organization intact.
“We’re in a great place right now. I think a lot of us are motivated. We’re focused. We’re driven. We have our priorities straight, and we’re just ready for another long journey. I think the most important thing for us is remaining healthy,” Kyrie Irving stated.
The Dallas Mavericks begin their season Thursday, Oct. 24, welcoming ascending superstar Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs to the American Airlines Center. The Spurs serve as an intriguing matchup with Wembanyama being a problem the league has yet to solve. The Mavericks also happen to have an ace up their sleeve in Doncic and Picasso reincarnated as a basketball player in Irving.
Doncic will become the face of the league this season winning his first MVP averaging a triple double. Irving will also embark upon a revenge tour after being disrespected by ESPN’s top 100 players list where he was ranked 25. Sit back and enjoy the ride Mavs fans—your Dallas Mavericks are ready to usurp the throne.
