'No fear out here': Mavericks' Irving not sweating Celtics fans

The NBA Finals get underway � finally � on Thursday night, and by the time the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks conclude their best-of-seven series, we'll know which is the best team in the NBA this season.


Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving discusses returning to his old stomping grounds in the NBA Finals, saying he isn't worried about the likely hostile reception he'll receive from Boston Celtics fans, where he played for two seasons.


At the end, there will be a parade, a coronation, and possibly an absolution. The winner will get the parade, and through that process, there's a good chance one of the best young players will be minted as an all-time great. While a championship ring isn't necessary for this recognition, it often serves as the tiebreaker when discussing the league's very best.

2024 NBA Finals: Celtics vs. Mavericks
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Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, 25, has done everything possible in his six-year NBA career to prove he deserves such consideration. Rookie of the year in 2018-19, first-team All-NBA every year since, led the league in scoring this season, and helped the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals as a 22-year-old in 2021-22. This is his first Finals appearance, but he's been leading teams on the biggest stages since winning a EuroLeague championship with Real Madrid at 18.


At 26 and in his seventh season, Celtics star Jayson Tatum is a five-time All-Star coming off his third consecutive first-team All-NBA nod. He's been in the playoffs every season and helped the Celtics to five Eastern Conference Finals appearances, twice advancing to the Finals.

Doncic versus Tatum is a valid lens through which to view the 2024 NBA Finals: elite young players in their prime with an opportunity to add "NBA champion" to their glittering CVs. Whoever wins will be recognized as a generational player.

But perhaps the most compelling storyline that could define the 2024 Finals is the basketball resurrection of Kyrie Irving. The 32-year-old Mavericks guard's path to NBA legend status went off the rails starting with his stint in Boston back in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and yet has resumed seamlessly since arriving in Dallas as damaged goods at the trade deadline a year ago.

Irving's talent has never been questioned. LeBron James said on his podcast Mind the Game with JJ Reddick, James added,
James' statement remains unchallenged. Irving's performance on the court has always been exceptional, despite a six-year period of off-court drama. After his time in Cleveland, he requested a trade, spent two tumultuous years in Boston, created a superteam in Brooklyn with Kevin Durant, and faced numerous controversies. Finally, he was traded to Dallas.

In Dallas, Irving has revived his career. He's meshed seamlessly with Doncic and his basketball skills have been front and center again. He averaged 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this season. Only four players in NBA history have averaged more than 25 points a game while shooting at least 40% from three, 50% on two-point field goals, and 90% on free throws in a single season: Larry Bird, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Irving. Only Curry has more such seasons.


Had Irving met the 65-game threshold required for All-NBA recognition (he played 58 games this season), he would have been a safe bet for All-NBA honors. In the playoffs, Irving is averaging 22.8 points a game with even better efficiency.

This raises the question: Do the Mavericks not only have the best player in the series in Doncic, but also the second-best in Irving?


Boston is well-equipped to handle almost anything, based on the depth and diversity of their rotation. But brilliance often finds a way in moments like these. It will be up to Tatum to match Doncic. If Irving remains true to his current form, he could lead Dallas to an upset victory, sparking a new conversation around his unique career.

Credit: sportsnet