By james art Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving recently issued a bold warning to his NBA rivals. Irving, 32, is a man of many words. The 32-year-old highlighted a key feature he believes should cause concern for opponents in the 2024-25 NBA season.
The highlight of Irving’s characterization drew attention from the basketball world. Irving highlighted the characteristic at the right time, as the Mavericks are highly motivated in 2024-25 and looking for a deep playoff run in 2025. Here’s what you need to know about it all.
Kyrie Irving’s warning to NBA rivals
Kyrie Irving’s bold warning may or may not scare his NBA rivals on Halloween. But Irving’s warning may be thought-provoking for some, if not most, people. The Dallas Mavericks almost achieved NBA Finals glory after the 2023-24 NBA season. The Mavericks were no match for the Boston Celtics, who quickly eliminated the top seed in five games. Irving recently mentioned the Mavericks’ strong self-belief in a recent statement on The Dallas Morning News“We have the best rim protection in the league.”
Dallas Mavericks Trio Ft. Kyrie Irving
Fast forward to 2024-25, where the Dallas Mavericks have an improved team with the trio of Irving, Luka Doncic and Klay Thompson. These three NBA stars justify that the Mavericks are determined to reach similar heights – or perhaps surpass them. The Mavericks’ defensive prowess can make it difficult for their NBA rivals. However, Irving’s recent statement is controversial, especially if one examines the team’s numbers.
The Mavericks have room for improvement in rim protection. Early NBA regular season data showed the Mavericks ranked 19th in the league in blocks per game, averaging 5.3. They significantly lead the Oklahoma City Thunder in the league with 10.0 blocks per contest.
The Mavericks can also improve on shot blocking, as Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II are averaging just 1.3 and 1.0 blocks per game, respectively. Gafford and Lively II’s averages are well behind Chet Holmgren’s 4.0 for the Thunder and Brook Lopez’s 3.3 for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kyrie Irving glows with confidence
Kyrie Irving shines with confidence as part of the Dallas Mavericks. Irving’s recent statement about the Mavericks may be up for debate, but Irving has a point whether anyone is a fan or not. The Mavericks are ranked in the top ten in the NBA in defensive shooting percentage as the team holds NBA opponents to 44.2% shooting – a key statistic supporting the team’s defensive prowess. Still, the Mavericks’ numbers could change as the 2024-25 NBA season continues. Therefore, it is important not to jump to conclusions.
The Mavericks have started 2024-25 strong with three wins in their first four games. Next up for the Mavericks will be defeating the Houston Rockets in a Texas matchup at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night. We will be following the Mavericks vs Rockets game to provide the latest news to the general public.