Last season, the Dallas Mavericks advanced to their first NBA Finals since they won it all in 2011. Unfortunately for them, they were outgunned by a more talented Boston Celtics team in the 2024 NBA Finals.
The Mavs acquired former Golden State sharpshooter Klay Thompson during the offseason to add more firepower to a team that has Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Because of their offseason upgrade, Dallas opened with the sixth-best odds to win the 2024-25 NBA championship. But betting odds are one thing; being able to pull it off on the basketball court is another.
Whether it's this season or in the future, former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban firmly believes that they will win an NBA title with Doncic.
"I do, I really, really do," said Cuban on The Big Podcast. "Because you know how guys mature, and it takes some time to really go through it, experience the ups and downs, and recognize what's really required of you. It takes time, and you and Kobe went through it. You mature in different rates, and I think Luka's always been a mature kid, but he is still learning the team element of what it takes to win, how to be a leader. It's not easy to be a leader when you come in at 18,19 years old."
The progression is there
Luka was only 19 when the Mavs drafted him in 2018. But unlike any other player his age, he was already wiser beyond his years, having started playing professionally in Europe at the age of 16. He is now 25 and six years into his NBA career.
Although that's two more years than what it took Shaq and Kobe to win their first chip in L.A., you can see the progression in Dallas. They made the playoffs in his second year, advanced to the Conference Finals in Year 4, and played in the NBA Finals in Year 6. He's also gained a pair of championship-experienced teammates in the last couple of years.
"Now he's learned to become a leader," added Mark. "He's watched other teams. He's talked to Kyrie, learning from Kyrie. Now, he'll learn more from Klay. And he's so smart, he'll be able to pull those pieces together, increase his leadership skills, keep on making his game better if you can believe that and I think those pieces together will really lead us to a championship."
Related: "I remember him sitting in the bathroom close to tears" - Doc opened up about a heartbreaking way Shaq's career ended
Luka paid tribute to his team after Finals loss
Doncic's maturity and leadership were on full display when he paid tribute to his teammates after the Celtics clinched the 2024 NBA championship. In his interview, Luka talked about the moves the team made and how they tried to put things together despite playing just a couple of months together.
"We did some great moves," said Doncic. "We've been together for five months. I'm proud of every guy that stepped on the floor, all the coaches, all the people behind. Obviously, we didn't win the Finals, but we did have a hell of a season. I'm proud of every one of them."
The Mavs shook up their roster midway through the 2023-24 season by acquiring P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Those moves turned them into a title contender. They added Klay Thompson during the offseason; now they could be a championship team and fulfill Cuban's prophecy.
Related: Jamal Crawford explains why Luka Doncic has the deepest bag in the NBA: "Luka can bring others into the game at such a high level"