Mavericks’ Luka Doncic Trade Unleashes a Kyrie Irving Crisis No One Can Ignore
The Dallas Mavericks had been on a strong run, winning five of their last six games before their momentum was halted by a turnover-heavy loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Since trading Luka Doncic, the Mavericks have been navigating one of the most unusual stretches in their franchise history. Over the weekend, Doncic put on a dominant performance for the Los Angeles Lakers in their win over the Denver Nuggets. It appeared to be the first time since the trade that Doncic was fully locked in, following weeks of emotional ups and downs.
Meanwhile, the “Max Christie project” in Dallas seems to be paying off, with Kyrie Irving highly impressed by Christie’s mental approach to the game.
Heading into Sunday’s game, Irving had been on one of his best runs of the season, delivering multiple 40-point performances when the Mavericks needed them most. However, a new challenge has emerged for him in the post-Doncic era, and it was easy to see coming.
Without Doncic, Teams Are Double-Teaming Irving Relentlessly
As a Maverick, Doncic was known for attracting double teams, creating open looks for teammates on the perimeter or driving to the rim. Now that Irving is the focal point of the offense, opposing teams are aggressively double-teaming him as well, but the dynamic is different.
Irving has the skill to escape double teams, but he lacks Doncic’s passing vision and ability to create for others in those situations. Instead, he will have to rely on his elite ball-handling and quick footwork to navigate defensive pressure.
Teams are beginning to recognize that trapping Irving could force bad passes and turnovers. The Mavericks’ depth will be crucial in addressing this issue—having big men step up to facilitate passing at the top of the key could make a significant difference. Injuries have taken a toll on Dallas this season, though the team has responded well. With positive updates on their injured bigs, their return could improve the team’s ability to counter double teams.
This isn’t a criticism of Irving’s game—he’s a proven champion and one of the best ball handlers in NBA history. However, he’s now facing a challenge Doncic dealt with regularly: handling double teams while enduring intense physicality.
When Doncic and Irving shared the floor, defenses couldn’t afford to double-team both. Now, with Doncic gone, opponents can focus entirely on shutting down Irving. The Mavericks’ failure to acquire another shot creator remains a major issue, meaning Irving will continue facing relentless defensive pressure all season.
