The sudden departure of Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks has left the team with a void that might appear a challenge to fill. However, the Mavs have no shortage of talent, with Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, and Naji Marshall all able to lead.
Now, one former NBA player thinks that Irving has a real chance of proving his worth and rising to the occasion since Dončić’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kendrick Perkins Claims Kyrie Irving Has Potential To Win MVP
Perkins, a former NBA champion and now an ESPN analyst, showered Irving with praise, claiming he has the opportunity to turn the season into one of the most inspiring stories of basketball. Perkins thinks that the nine-time NBA All-Star has the opportunity to enter the MVP conversation if he continues at this level.
“They have a guy who, I believe, is writing a story and could possibly be the best story of basketball by the end of the season, Kyrie Irving. What he is doing now and carrying this Mavs organization and the production he is doing with the leadership, right now Kyrie Irving has the golden opportunity to carry his team, until they get healthy.”
"Right now, Kyrie Irving has a golden opportunity to carry this [Mavs] team until they get healthy – the other day somebody said… 'is it just [SGA] and Jokic fighting for [the MVP]?' Kyrie could possibly enter that conversation."
—Kendrick Perkinspic.twitter.com/gtGn5MyiZD
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2025
Irving is currently posting an average of 24.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Following Dončić’s exit, Irving has assumed the role of the Mavericks’ primary playmaker and offensive leader. It was apparent during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 21 when Irving led Dallas to a 111-103 victory, scoring a game-high 35 points.
Although Perkins pointed out that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić are the two frontrunners for MVP, Irving can force his way to the MVP level if he continues to put numbers on the scoreboard.
“The other day, somebody said, ‘Hey, should we give MVP to SGA (Gilgeous-Alexander)? It’s just him and Jokić fighting for it.’ Kyrie can possibly enter that conversation. They’re only one game away from the sixth seed despite everything they’ve dealt with.
“Kyrie Irving gets them into the playoffs — not the play-in, but the actual playoffs. That’s a valuable piece of what your team is. He is going to make All-NBA.”
The Mavericks are fighting for a strong playoff spot right now and sit eighth in the Western Conference with a 31-27 record. If they want to cement their position in the playoffs, Irving has to remain consistent.
The Mavs have only lost one of their last four games, with Irving being the lead scorer in three of them. If he continues to deliver big performances and pushes Dallas into a higher seed, Perkins’ prediction might come true.
