The Mavs are coming off a disappointing season that included plenty of ‘Luka Magic’ but no playoff appearance. Head Coach Jason Kidd is doing his best to take advantage of the many talents of controversial star point guard Kyrie Irving, but it’s not going well for the Western Conference team led by Luka Doncic.
The Mavs signed a well-known, big-name enforcer this offseason to try and stop teams from consistently fighting their star players. The team is gunning for the NBA champion Denver Nuggets, and one of its most famous players issued a warning to Nikola Jokic recently.
Now a Mavs coach is making news by sending a warning himself to the NBA as a whole. According to God Shammgod, the former Washington hoops star and current assistant coach of the Mavs, Irving is set for a bounce-back season, and the rest of the NBA will do well to prepare for it.
Irving, the eight-time NBA All-StarAVERAGE more than 27 points and more than 5 rebounds and assists for the Mavs last season. Critics say he doesn’t mesh with Doncic and the rest of the Mavs’ roster.
However, he has never been with the team and is 31 years old. According to Shammgod, Irving still has a lot of gas in the tank, and this could be the year he returns to championship caliber form with the Mavs.
“They’re gonna see this year,” said Shammgod when asked about the perception and expectations of Irving in the Mavs uniform.
Shammgod’s stern five-word warning was followed by a litany of praise for his star point guard.
“I’ve known his pops forever so I knew Kai when he was young,” Shammgod said. “It’s funny because when he first came, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, cool now we got the second best dribbler in the NBA.'”
According to the developmental coach of the Mavs, Irving still has the total package, and the rest of the NBA will be known this season when he settles with his current team.
“It’s just amazing to see the things he can do,” Shammgod said. “He was one of those people who got it all. It’s not just ballhandling; he has all the layups, shots, everything.”