The ripple effects of the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards have only amplified the narrative that Nico Harrison and the Dallas Mavericks made a historic blunder just over a year ago. By shipping Luka Doncic to Los Angeles for Davis, the Mavericks effectively dismantled a generational foundation. The numbers are jarring: Davis appeared in only 29 games for Dallas, posting a mediocre 16-13 record.
Meanwhile, Doncic, the NBA’s current scoring leader, has already recorded 29 games with 30+ points this season for the Lakers and took home January Player of the Month honors. The vision of a Davis, Kyrie, Cooper Flagg “Big Three” in Dallas is now officially a permanent “what if” as the franchise pivots yet again.
Kyrie over King James? Luka’s Surprising Take on Teammate Chemistry
During a recent appearance on the “Cousins” podcast hosted by NBA legends Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, Luka was asked which teammate he’s shared the best on-court chemistry with throughout his career-spanning Slovenia, Real Madrid, and the NBA.
His answer was swift and perhaps a bit stings for Lakers fans: “I’ll probably say Kyrie.” The two reached the NBA Finals in their last full season together in Dallas, playing 87 games where they looked like a flawless offensive engine.
Interestingly, Luka completely bypassed his current superstar running mate, LeBron James, in the discussion. While LeBron and Kyrie famously delivered Cleveland its only title in 2016, Luka’s bond with Irving seems to have left a deeper mark.
Statistically, Kyrie doesn’t even crack the top 10 of players who have shared the floor with Luka most, a list led by Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, and Dorian Finney-Smith. He also skipped over Jalen Brunson, despite the 255 games they played together before Brunson’s departure to the Knicks.
Luka’s Reaction to the Mavericks Trade
The podcast also touched on the emotional weight of being moved from the only NBA home he had ever known. Luka admitted the trade caught him completely off guard, providing a rare look into the human side of the business.
“For me, it was terrible. I mean honestly I thought I was going to be there my whole life,” Luka shared with McGrady and Carter. That “perfect pairing” with Irving was cut short by front-office desperation, and the current reality for both stars couldn’t be more different.
Kyrie is currently sidelined with an injury, watching a struggling Dallas squad led by rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. While Flagg has been spectacular individually, the Mavs are facing very low odds of making the playoffs.
Conversely, Luka is a frontrunner for the MVP trophy, anchoring a Lakers team that is a legitimate contender in the brutal Western Conference. As the Lakers await the return of Austin Reaves, the duo of LeBron and Luka remains the most dangerous pairing in the league, even if Luka still keeps a special place in his rankings for his former Dallas partner.
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