Former NBA player Jamal Crawford describes Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic as the league’s most talented backcourt tandem.
Despite being at different stages of their careers, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are two of the greatest guards in basketball history. Former NBA players consider the Dallas Mavericks’ backcourt tandem to be the most skilled in history.
On Tuesday’s episode of TNT’s Inside the NBA, retired player Jamal Crawford made the following assertion. The three-time Sixth Man of the Year’s judgment should be regarded seriously, since he witnessed numerous outstanding backcourt duos over his 20-year career. Is Crawford exaggerating, or is he onto something?
Jamal Crawford could be right about the Mavericks’ backcourt.
Crawford’s claim may raise eyebrows at first, but it makes sense with more thinking. Irving is widely regarded as the greatest ball-handler of all time, surpassing even the previous holder of the distinction.
“He got the best,” Iverson remarked on The Big Podcast with Shaquille O’Neal and Adam Lefkoe. “Kyrie will beat you, then come back and toy with it. Do you see what I mean? He’s playing with people. “He can still leave, but if he wants to play with you…”
Iverson’s endorsement is noteworthy, as the Hall-of-Fame point guard was a pioneer for Irving’s style of play, which included spellbinding crossovers and behind-the-back moves. Of course, “AI” crossed paths with the legendary Michael Jordan once.
In addition to his dribbling abilities, Irving can shoot from any distance or body position. His left-handed game-winning midrange shot a few weeks ago served as yet another reminder that the only person capable of stopping him is himself.
Doncic, on the other hand, is essentially a triple-double machine. This season, the Slovenian international averages 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game and is tied with Nikola Jokic for MVP. He’s also an elite shooter, with a 48.8% field-goal percentage.