Kyrie Irving includes ‘Hermano’ Luka Dončić after meeting with emotional Lakers-Mavs

Los Angeles – The only full season that Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić spent together as teammates led to an NBA final. Last spring, they combined an average of almost 60 points per game in the post -season when the Dallas Mavericks from the Western Conference came out, although they had no advantage in some series.

At the beginning of this month, the Mavericks decided to break up their electrical back court. They exchanged Dončić against the Los Angeles Lakers for a package around Anthony Davis. It was bitter sweet to Irving, because while he looked at Davis for a close friend, he had made a real connection to Dončić in the two years in which they were together.

As soon as the last summer sounded on Tuesday in the defeat of the Lakers of the Mavericks 107-99, Irving and Dončić met near Mid Court, their usual handshake and hugged.

Hermanos. 🤞❤️@luka7doncic X @Kyriering pic.twitter.com/wrv3xg0ix6

– NBA (@nba) February 26, 2025

“Watched like S -“, said Irving when he was asked what it was like to play against Dončić.

“It was uncomfortable, but it was fun. We felt that we were back in practice. Tackle each other. And to see the crowd and get it running. And when I see the hard recordings, how he made it thousands of times – that’s probably even more uncomfortable. “

Irving scored 35 points. Remaining with 3:49, he got a 3 pointer from now on to jump. The Mavericks, to whom their three great men – Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford – were missing, made the game competitive, but could not hold themselves against the up -and -coming Lakers who won nine out of 11 games.

In his first game against his former team, Dončić fulfilled the box value (19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists). He did not take a good shot (6 out of 17 from the field, including 1 from 7 to 3), but he didn’t have to win the Lakers. Dončić’s praise pass to LeBron James allowed the Lakers to take over a lead of eight points with a 32 second lead, and stamped any hope that Dallas made a victory on the west coast.

Dončić took up some of his former teammates as soon as the game was over. Irving was the first person he committed.

“Kyrie is my Hermano,” said Dončić. “We go far beyond basketball. It was nice to see these boys. We went together and it was really fun to see them all. “

Before each of the last two seasons, the Maverick’s pre -season played overseas. In 2023 they faced Real Madrid – the Euroleague team Dončić in Spain. In October, the Mavericks were twice in Abu Dhabi the Minnesota Timberwolves. Irving said these trips had helped him and Dončić closer.

“For me, I think there was respect before I played together,” said Irving. “But playing with him is just an innocent child. Ultra talented. The whole world stands in front of him. You also want to protect such people. Because I have the feeling that people sometimes go crazy to him. And he reacts in his own way. He is not from America. He is not used to culture here. My goal is to just protect him. That’s why it goes deeper than basketball. “

Dončić, still 25, looked shocked in the days after moving the Mavericks. After all-star break, he looked more like his old ego. Dončić scored 32 points on Saturday when the Lakers achieved an impressive victory against the Denver Nuggets. On Tuesday, Dončić recorded the first of many triple double.

“I don’t think he was expecting the change,” said Irving. “I think that means that he can feel these emotions even more.”

Irving was traded twice. In 2017, the Cleveland Cavaliers sent him the order of Boston Celtics. Two years ago, the Mavericks Irving bought little after his controversial stay at the Brooklyn Nets.

So far, Irving has been a stable force for the Mavericks. Irving, who turns 33 in March, is aware that he does not have many chances to add another championship to his resume. He no longer has Dončić at his side to help him in this search, even though the two remain close.

“He is still a young child,” said Irving about Dončić. “We come here in the young age. Some of us are emotionally ripe. Some of us are not. Some of us have a good insight into our responsibility when we come to the league. Some of us don’t. It requires development in this area as a human being. Basketball will not repair it. It will not hide them. And we all have them. I only say that as a protective big brother. “

(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)