Kyrie Irving and Mavericks Facing Disrespectful Rankings
The Dallas Mavericks boast a remarkable lineup, featuring two of the top point guards of their era. Luka Dončić has been exceptional in recent seasons, with the 2023-24 season being arguably his best yet, averaging career highs of 33.9 points and 9.8 assists per game. Kyrie Irving, despite being asked to play out of position alongside Dončić, contributed 5.4 assists per game while in a Mavericks uniform.
The duo has demonstrated their prowess by guiding Dallas to a Finals appearance, overcoming some of the Western Conference’s strongest teams along the way.
However, despite their success, Irving and the Mavericks are still facing disrespect from certain media outlets. Last season, Irving criticized ESPN for giving their trade a poor grade, but the Mavericks proved the critics wrong by reaching the 2024 playoffs and advancing to the championship round.
Yet, the skepticism persists. HoopsHype recently ranked Irving as the 11th best point guard for the upcoming 2024-25 season. This ranking was justified by Irving’s underwhelming performance against the Boston Celtics and his absence from All-NBA teams over the past three years, coupled with missed games in previous seasons.
While there might be some merit to these points, it’s worth noting that some players ranked above Irving did not make significant impacts in the 2024 playoffs. The Mavericks’ success and Irving’s on-court contributions suggest he deserves a higher ranking.
On a positive note, HoopsHype has ranked Dončić as the top point guard for the upcoming season. Having earned All-NBA First-Team honors for the past five seasons, Dončić stands out as the premier backcourt player. The only accolade missing from his resume is an MVP award, which Irving believes will change “very soon.”
