“Aint Breaking Records” – Amid High Praise for Luka-Kyrie, Splash Bros Still Exceed the Mavs Duo, Says Richard Jefferson

The Mavs are finally making their first Finals appearance since 2011. A big part of it is, of course, owed to the partnership Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have established. With Doncic’s natural scoring prowess and Kyrie’s experience, Dallas is once more looking like title contenders like they did in Dirk Nowitzki’s prime. Despite their partnership being new, some are even itching to count them among the most memorable duos the NBA has ever seen. That noise will increase if they win a ring. Until then, a few bold ones are stopping short at the backcourt duos, specifically declaring Kyrie and Luka the greatest guard tandem in the league. As if the Splash Bros don’t exist.

After Stan Van Gundy, Kendrick Perkins dared to push the idea that Luka and Kyrie are the best backcourt duo in the league while on Road Trippin’. His colleague, Richard Jefferson, had to remind him that Steph Curry and Klay Thompson haven’t retired. He is, however, a little more eloquent about his reasoning.

“From a skill standpoint, yes I agree, 100% from a skill standpoint. From a scoring… when we said scoring, I don’t know I still put Steph and Klay,” Jefferson said after making faces at Perkins when he said Doncic and Irving were a stronger offensive duo. “The numbers that those dudes [Curry and Thompson] were putting up consistently over a decade and breaking numbers and breaking records… Luca and Kyrie ain’t breaking records yet. They scoring a lot of points but they not breaking records.”

Perk did acknowledge that RJ’s point is valid. The Splash Bros after all have a decade over the Dallas duo. Kyrie came to Dallas in 2023 and it took a minute before he formed a chemistry with Doncic he hasn’t shown since he played with LeBron in Cleveland. It would take a while for them to prove they’re the strongest backcourt, as Richard Jefferson contended.

Too soon for Luka-Kyrie

Stan Van Gundy boosted the chatter when he publicly declared Luka and Kyrie the best. Even Charles Barkley was of a similar opinion. But another faction argues there are better offensive duos who have a proven body of work, Splash Bros included.

RJ pointed out that Curry and Thompson’s records remain unbroken. The duo has either broken or extended their combined 3-pointer records. They were called the strongest backcourt in NBA history first in the 2012-13 season, before the rings and MVPs. Apart from Curry’s seemingly unbreakable shooting records, Klay interestingly holds the record for the most threes in a game (14), the fewest minutes played for a 60 point game (60 points in 29 minutes), and the most points in a quarter (27 points in the third quarter).

Jefferson did concede that Luka and Kyrie are presenting a strong case in terms of talent with the potential to get there. But they’ll be in the discussion when they’re closer to the Splash Bros.