Dallas Mavs Duo of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving Rivals LeBron James' 2016 Cleveland Cavs

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are about to play together in the NBA playoffs for the first time ever, and their production as a dynamic duo for the Dallas Mavericks is more than what Irving and LeBron James put up during the Cleveland Cavs' 2016 title run.

When the Dallas Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving last year, it was easy to see how he and Luka Doncic could eventually recreate some of the magic he experienced alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Early on, there were bumps in the road, as both Doncic and Irving were banged up after the trade, and the Mavs, who lacked depth at the time, plummeted down the stretch of the 2022-23 season, missing the postseason entirely. Several national media pundits wondered if the Mavs had made a mistake bringing Irving in due to the way that season ended, and more concerns were raised when Dallas signed Irving to a three-year, $120 million contract the following summer.

For those who actually watched the Mavs play after the trade last season, though, it was apparent that the statistical production of Doncic and Irving translating into wins was a matter of "when," not "if." The dynamic duo was one of the best in the league in their limited time together on the court, but the rest of the roster lacked the athleticism and defensive abilities to take the team to the next level.

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Mavs GM Nico Harrison proceeded to put in work that started early last summer. Not only did he sign Irving to a new, long-term deal, but he also drafted Dereck Lively II and brought in key free-agent signings Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr.

And even though the sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics for Grant Williams didn't work out as expected, Harrison was eventually able to flip Williams to the Charlotte Hornets for P.J. Washington, who has been an integral part of Dallas morphing into one of the best defensive teams in the league. Add in big man Daniel Gafford, who was acquired from the Washington Wizards at this year's trade deadline as well, and all of a sudden, the Mavs' roster from top to bottom complimented Doncic and Irving perfectly.

The results speak for themselves, as the Mavs have morphed into one of the best teams in the NBA over the last two months, going from having a 26-23 record in early February to having a 49-30 record and a secured playoff spot with three games left to play. Over the last 15 games, the Mavs rank No. 1 in defensive rating (105.3), No. 7 in offensive rating (117.1) and No. 2 in net rating (11.8) while going 13-2. The Mavs are also one of the best clutch teams in the league, having a 23-9 record in such games – a significant improvement from their 23-29 record in clutch games last season.

By the numbers, Doncic and Irving have actually been better during the 2023-24 season than Irving and James were for the Cavs during their 2016 title season. As a duo, Doncic and Irving have averaged a combined 59.5 points, 14.2 rebounds, 15.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game, while Irving and James averaged a combined 44.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 2.5 steals in 2016.

“Having Kyrie here has been a blessing," Doncic said after the Mavs won their 15th game in 17 tries on Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets. "Off the court he helps me a lot. Not just me, the whole team. He knows how to win the championship, he’s a very humble guy, great guy. On the court and off the court he’s just been a blessing to me.”

James knows firsthand what a true blessing Irving can be, especially on the court, as Irving hit the biggest shot in Cavs history in 2016 – a dagger 3-pointer over Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to seal the franchise's first title.

If all goes according to plan, the hope is that Irving can help put Doncic and the Mavs over the hump during this upcoming postseason run in similar fashion. The pieces and the chemistry are there. All that's left now is for the Mavs to go out and take care of business.