Almost every year now, we see franchises make multiple superstars team up to create a super team, hoping to win a quick Championship. However, forming a star-studded team hardly ever guarantees a title. And when Kyrie Irving joined Luka Doncic in Dallas last February, it seemed like Mark Cuban’s experiment would also be a failed one as the Mavs finished as the 11 seed and didn’t even make it to the playoffs. But just a year later, the Luka-Kyrie connection led the Mavs to the WCF, silencing the critics. Seasoned veteran Chris Paul revealed the secret to the duo’s success.

Making an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Countdown, CP3 joined the panel to discuss the upcoming series between Dallas and Minnesota. When his co-panelist Stephen A. Smith was asked who the most important superstar would be in this series, he replied, “I’m gonna go with Kyrie Irving.” While Stephen A. applauded Kyrie for what he did this year as a leader, Chris Paul also agreed with the veteran analyst and revealed Kyrie’s impact, “Ky is so tough.” Then, he explained, Kyrie and Luka have worked so well together because both superstars know when and how to “pick their spots”.

Although many believed both ball-dominant guards would not function well together. However, in these playoffs, we have constantly seen Kyrie taking a backseat and then taking over games during crunch time. Meanwhile, Luka is doing his thing all game, helping the Mavs stay afloat until Kyrie decides to unleash ‘Uncle Drew’ mode. “He’s definitely going to put his imprint on the game…That’s why the marriage between him and Luka has been seamless,” Paul added.

How have Luka and Kyrie helped each other grow?

We witnessed Phoenix’s lethal trio get swept in the first round. And then, there was also the downfall of the Clippers’ Big 4. Which made it more evident that just forming a super team is not enough to win.

So, when Luka and Kyrie were asked why their duo has worked and what it’s like playing with each other, they had nothing but great things to say. Initially shying away from the question, Doncic claimed that Kyrie has been there for him as a teammate “big time”. “Helped me mature a lot, realize to see the game in a different way, and obviously on the court it’s amazing to play with a guy like him,” he said.

On the other hand, Kyrie thanked Luka and the Mavs for embracing him with open arms. He also credited Luka for helping him grow as a leader and continuously work on his game at the highest level. Maybe that’s the kind of chemistry a duo needs to be successful, amidst all the criticism. And the Mavs duo has proved it in these playoffs.

Kyrie is averaging a little over 21 points in the playoffs so far. However, his contribution has been much bigger than his stats. Not only offensively, but Kyrie Irving has also done wonders defensively, averaging over a steal and 4 boards.

Meanwhile, Luka has been as dominant as ever, averaging a near triple-double with 27.3 points. And they hope to continue this dominance against the Wolves in the next round to complete their playoff journey.