Mavericks Eye Future After Finals Loss to Celtics

Posted : 18 June 2024

As the Dallas Mavericks effectively conceded defeat, substituting all their starters while trailing by 21 points with 2:37 remaining in Game 5, Kyrie Irving walked across the court to congratulate his former teammates Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, along with other members of the Boston Celtics. Following this, Irving returned to the bench and shared an embrace and a few words with his teammate Luka Doncic, who was concluding his first NBA Finals appearance.

"We said, 'We'll fight together next season, and we just going to believe,'" Doncic remarked after the Mavericks' 106-88 defeat to the Celtics, who clinched their record-breaking 18th NBA championship. Irving described the conclusion as a "bitter" end to an otherwise "really positive journey" for the Mavericks, who had rebuilt their team around their star duo over the past year, bouncing back from a lottery finish to win the Western Conference. The team is optimistic about their future, believing they can be contenders for years to come.

Irving acknowledged their progress, emphasizing the importance of consistency. "We answered a lot of questions this year on what we were capable of doing, and now it's just about being consistent," said Irving, who struggled again at TD Garden, ending Game 5 with 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting. He expressed his desire for the Mavericks to become a regular championship contender, reflecting on the personal growth and redemption arc he experienced throughout the season.

Doncic, who tallied 28 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 7 turnovers in the elimination loss, wasn't in a reflective mood Monday night but expressed optimism about the franchise's future. He became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in points, rebounds, assists, and steals during a postseason, despite suffering from a right knee sprain and a thoracic contusion that required pain-killing injections throughout the series.

While his summer plans, including playing for the Slovenian national team, remain uncertain, Doncic emphasized the importance of getting healthier and learning from this Finals experience. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd highlighted Doncic's potential, stating that with one of the best players in the world, the team should always be in contention for a championship.

Mavericks Eye Future After Finals Loss to Celtics

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