Statements
BOSTON -- As the Dallas Mavericks effectively conceded defeat, swapping out all of their starters while trailing by 21 points with 2:37 remaining in Monday's Game 5, Kyrie Irving headed toward the other end of the court to congratulate his former teammates Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, along with other members of the Boston Celtics.
Irving then returned to the bench and shared an embrace and a few words with his teammate Luka Doncic, a superstar wrapping up his first NBA Finals appearance.
Celtics Clinch Record-Breaking Title
The Mavericks fell to the Celtics 106-88, allowing Boston to clinch their record-breaking 18th NBA championship. Despite the bitter end, Irving characterized the season as a "really positive journey" for the Mavericks, who transformed their roster and progressed from a lottery finish to capturing the Western Conference championship.
Within the organization, there's a prevailing sense of optimism that the Mavericks can be contenders for years to come.
Doncic's Brilliance Shines Through
Despite the loss, Luka Doncic wasn't in a particularly reflective mood Monday night. Instead, he expressed feeling "great" about the franchise's future. This optimism is bolstered by Doncic’s remarkable postseason performance. He became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in points, rebounds, assists, and steals during a postseason, even while managing serious injuries.
Doncic suffered a right knee sprain in the first round and a thoracic contusion in the Finals opener, necessitating pregame pain-killing injections for the remainder of the series. Due to these injuries, Doncic's ability to play for the Slovenian national team this summer remains uncertain. Slovenia is set to open an Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece on July 2.
Kidd's Perspective
Mavericks' head coach Jason Kidd characterized Doncic's Finals appearance as a "learning experience" and praised his performance despite the loss. "For him at the age of 25 to get to the Finals, to be playing his basketball at the level that he's playing, now it's just about being consistent," Kidd reflected.
In Their Own Words
"We said, 'we'll fight together next season, and we’re just going to believe,'" Doncic shared after the game. "We answered a lot of questions this year on what we were capable of doing, and now it's just about being consistent," he continued.
Doncic added, "I think probably in the last week, I said that I wanted to be remembered as one of the best teams of this era, and our last few champions have been a new one each and every year." He went on to say, "So, I see an opportunity for us to really build our future in a positive manner where this is almost like a regular thing for us, and we're competing for championships."
Irving's Reflection
From a more introspective standpoint, Irving found a silver lining in the journey. "I think I enjoyed this journey more than any other season, just because of the redemption arc and being able to learn as much as I did about myself, my teammates, the organization, and the people around me."
Reflecting on his own struggles with injuries during the series, Doncic said, "It doesn't matter if I was hurt, how much I was hurt. I was out there. I tried to play, but I didn't do enough."
When asked about his future, Doncic was non-committal: "I don't want to talk about what's next, man. I have some decisions to make. I'm just trying to get a little bit healthier."
Setting a New Standard
The Mavericks' journey to the Finals, despite ending on a sour note, has set a new standard for the team. "When you have one of the best players in the world, you should always be fighting for a championship," Kidd summarized.
Though the Mavericks ended their season with a loss, they have established the groundwork for future success. With a revamped roster and a determined star in Luka Doncic, the Mavericks are poised to remain in the championship conversation for years to come.
The loss in Game 5 is merely a chapter in what promises to be an ongoing and compelling story for this franchise.