Jason Kidd, the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, has voiced his belief that Kyrie Irving deserves to be selected for the NBA All-Star Game. As the Mavericks are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night, Kidd discussed Irving’s All-Star credentials, emphasizing his leadership and on-court performance.
Before the game, Kidd told reporters, “Luka and Kai are our All-Stars. Our MVPs… When you ask about Kai, Kai’s leadership, the stats and what he’s done for our team is All-Star caliber.”
Irving, who is 32, has had a standout season. The Mavs guard is averaging 24.1 points per game with impressive shooting percentages of 48.2% from the field and 42.2% from three-point range. In addition, he is contributing 4.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.
But stats only tell part of the story. Kidd praised Irving’s leadership, noting his positive influence on his teammates, particularly during a season filled with injury challenges. “His energy, his confidence, his positivity with his teammates is huge for us,” Kidd said. “I think the guys feed on that. His calmness, his ability to understand the time to score. We’ve asked him to do a lot of things and he’s never said no. He’s been there through the wins and losses. He understands the journey and that’s to win a championship, so we are lucky to have him.”
Irving’s impact on the Mavericks since joining in 2022-23 has been undeniable. Although the team has faced some challenges, Irving has delivered numerous standout performances, including coming close to leading Dallas to a championship last season. The Mavericks’ hopes for a championship remain intact, with Irving playing a crucial role.
For now, Irving’s attention is on helping the Mavs secure a win against the Pelicans, with the possibility of earning his ninth All-Star selection being announced on Thursday.
