Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were teammates for just two-plus seasons. That doesn’t seem like nearly enough time for a backcourt pairing that some considered to be the most skilled ever. Nonetheless, with the Dallas Mavericks determined to trade Doncic –whether it was to the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks or some other franchise –by this offseason, it’s about all they were going to get.
The Mavericks motivation for trading Doncic has been covered extensively. No matter what side of the aisle NBA fans are on, it’s clear that there was a storm brewing deep in the heart of Texas. However, just because the business of the NBA can be unmerciful, it doesn’t mean that the players have to be just as cold. So, knowing that Doncic and Irving have maintained a close friendship after his trade is genuinely heart-warming.
Lakers’ Luka Doncic Dishes Skill He’d Steal From Mavs’ Kyrie Irving
Prior to being traded to the Lakers, Doncic sat down with Overtime to discuss a wide array of topics. Among the questions that the five-time All-Star was asked what skill or attribute he would steal from another NBA player. With little hesitation, he responded:
“Kyrie handles. Shotmaking. I think he’s one of the best shooters.”
Luka Doncic speaks on what skill or attribute he’d steal from another NBA player:
“Kyrie [Irving’s] handles. Shotmaking. I think he’s one of the best shooters…”
(🎥 @overtime; h/t @LukaUpdates) pic.twitter.com/Wjfv6Trw5s
— Kyrie Center (@kyriecenterig) February 27, 2025
Asked whether the now nine-time All-Star has offered him any pointers in regards to ball-handling, the prodigious point guard could only grin.
“Handles, you can’t really teach that. You have to work for it.”
Because players often praise their current teammates, it’s possible that Doncic’s answer will have been different post-trade. Maybe there’s now an attribute that four-time NBA MVP and four-time NBA champion LeBron James possesses that he’d prefer to have. If he played for the Denver Nuggets, perhaps he’d name one of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic‘s skills.
Nevertheless, Irving is truly a wizard with the ball in his hands. Not only is he capable of breaking down the defense off-the-dribble, he has an innate feel of how to get shots off from a variety of angles. Countless hours have gone into him mastering his ability to counter defenses off-the-dribble. Pools of sweat have been poured as he’s worked on scoring from every area of the floor.
Unrivaled
Doncic definitely has the advantage over Irving as a facilitator. Though the 2011 No. 1 pick has made strides in that area since being drafted, Doncic’s a preternatural passer. When fans or commentators talk about players having eyes in the back of their heads, he’s right in the conversation with James and Jokic.
Furthermore, Doncic is an exceptional scorer himself, boasting the third-highest career average of all-time (28.5 PPG). However, if he had Irving’s ball-handling and shooting ability, he might truly be unrivaled at the offensive end.
Doncic knows how to get his way against tight defense but relies on his size and stepbacks a little more than a shake and bake. His touch is pretty solid in general considering the fact that he’s made 46.9 percent of his career field goal attempts. Yet, if he had Irving’s stroke, his 3-ball would fall more routinely. To that point, Doncic is a career 34.7 percent shooter from deep. Meanwhile, Irving has converted 39.5 percent of his career 3s.
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