The narrative of a star struggling to secure his first NBA championship is a common thread in the league’s history. LeBron James, at 22, shot 35.6% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc in his first NBA Finals against San Antonio in 2007. It took him four more seasons to return to the Finals, where in 2011, Dallas exposed his weaknesses. Similarly, Michael Jordan faced three consecutive first-round exits, a second-round loss, and two conference finals losses before clinching his first title in his seventh season.
Hakeem Olajuwon reached the Finals in his second season, lost to Boston, and then waited eight years to win a championship. Jerry West suffered seven straight Finals losses with the Los Angeles Lakers before finally triumphing. Newly crowned champions Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics also endured numerous playoff disappointments before securing their first championship.
These playoff setbacks taught these players valuable lessons, improving their skills and understanding of the game’s importance. Now, it’s Luka Doncic’s turn to grow and strive for a title, following Boston’s championship-clinching Game 5 victory. Doncic praised the Celtics, noting their cohesion and maturity, and expressed a desire to learn from their journey.
Despite feeling the sting of the loss, Doncic remained proud of his team’s efforts. The Mavericks, who added Kyrie Irving last season and P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline, managed to defeat three 50-win teams in the Western Conference playoffs. Doncic, reflecting on their five-month journey together, expressed pride in his teammates and their accomplishments, even though they fell short in the Finals.
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison faces the task of further refining the roster, much like Celtics president Brad Stevens did to achieve the right mix. Doncic, 25, had both strong and weak moments in the Finals, averaging 29.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.6 steals while shooting 47.2% from the field. However, his 3-point shooting (24.4%), free throws (58.6%), and turnovers (4.6 per game) highlighted areas for improvement.
