Luka Doncic Gives His Opinion on Suns-Mavericks Rivalry

Luka Doncic was asked on media day if the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns are rivals after their 2022 playoff series.

Author:
Landon Buford
Sep 29, 2022 4:06 PM EDT

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The Phoenix Suns play host to the Dallas Mavericks for their regular season opener on Oct. 19.

Since Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals, it will be the first time both teams will see each other. At one point in the third quarter, the Suns had a total of 36 points, which Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards called a disgrace in a video posted on his Instagram story.

”I remember playing Phoenix, and they were talking so much s*** telling us we better make the playoffs. We ain’t going to make the playoffs," said Edwards.

"We are out of the playoffs, but this is a disgrace. Y’all got 36 points in the third quarter? This is terrible!”

On Monday, the Mavericks had their media day, and their three-time All-Star Luka Doncic was asked if the Suns are the Mavs rivals.

"I don't know! Maybe yeah, I don't know. There's a lot of rivals," said Doncic.

On Monday, Suns forward Cam Johnson talked about the lost against the Mavericks being motivation.

"Now the way we lost last year. There is no way around is tough. But something like that gives you motivation to get up every day and workout something like that gives you motivation to to go back at it and do it all over again," said Johnson.

"Off the Finals, best record in the league. Last year it was extremely disappointing. It was disappointing to everybody in the organization every fan here and worldwide, that you cannot debate but it adds some fuel to the fire."

Last season for the Mavericks, Doncic averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game in 65 games. Meanwhile, Johnson averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists per game in 66 games for the Suns.

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