The 2024 NBA Finals will feature two reunions between players and their former teams. Kyrie Irving will face his former team, the Boston Celtics, and Kristaps Porzingis will face the Dallas Mavericks, his team from 2019 to 2021.
Former Mavericks player Chandler Parsons recently suggested that there was tension between Porzingis and Luka Doncic during their time together in Dallas. However, Doncic denied this, stating that he and Porzingis have a good relationship despite their on-court struggles.
I’ve talked to Chandler Parsons maybe twice in my life, so I don’t know how he would know… But me and KP have a good relationship. Luka Doncic said via Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints
Doncic also dismissed Parsons’ claims, saying he’s barely spoken to him and doesn’t know how Parsons would know about his relationship with Porzingis. Porzingis similarly downplayed the situation, saying he’s focused on the present and not dwelling on the past.
Despite their time together in Dallas not yielding the desired success, both Porzingis and Doncic have found success elsewhere. Porzingis has been instrumental in the Celtics’ success, while Doncic has emerged as one of the league’s top players and led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011.
The Phoenix Suns may go down in NBA history for drafting Deandre Ayton over Luka Doncic in 2018, a decision that could be likened to the infamous Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan draft mistake in 1984. Despite Ayton’s promising physicality and skills, he has failed to live up to expectations, while Doncic has emerged as one of the league’s top players.
An anonymous NBA executive expressed admiration for Doncic’s playoff performance, noting that the Suns’ decision to pass on him may be remembered as one of the worst draft mistakes in history. However, it’s important to remember that Ayton was widely considered the top prospect at the time, and the Suns stuck to their plan.
And as put to me by one admiring rival executive, who has been marveling at Doncic’s play throughout these playoffs, watching intently as No. 77 repeatedly punishes defenses that are trying to wear him down: ‘Drafting Deandre Ayton over Luka Doncic might one day be as bad as Bowie over Jordan.’ Marc Stein wrote
While Doncic’s greatness is undeniable, his legacy will ultimately be measured by the number of titles he wins. Meanwhile, the Suns’ struggles to return to the Finals serve as a reminder of the challenges ahead. Despite the hindsight criticism, the Suns’ decision to draft Ayton was not entirely unjustifiable, and the team’s process was sound, even if the results have been disappointing.