Dirk Nowitzki's bold successors astound America.

Next-generation German basketball players outshine American opponents

Luka Doncic mirrors a Slovenian bear, and nobody can restrain him. His incredible stint with Kyrie Irving in the NBA is now unforgettable. But the Dallas Mavericks are a squad that yearns for more.

In the penultimate moments of the game, a crossover, a physical deceit, a hesitation dribble, and a step-back. Wham! Luka Doncic upends Rudy Gobert, freshly crowned Defensive Player of the Year, at the three-point line discombobulated and rams his long-range shot before the time expires to eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second match of the Western Conference finals in the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks also dominate the subsequent game and are just one win away from their first entrance into the NBA Finals since Dirk Nowitzki.

Afterward, Doncic's iconic outburst ensues. "You can't fuckin' guard me," an eye-bulging Doncic screeches at Gobert, flaunting a ferocious facial expression reminiscent of a ravenous Slovenian brown bear. You can't shield me. The Wolves from Minnesota are his prey. Multiple NBA figures rejoice in his shot and emotional reaction on social media. Nowitzki offers only a solitary word: "Wow." The 25-year-old point guard finally showcases his talent on the grandest stage, proving he deserves to be among the legends.

A few games hence, Doncic and the peerless Irving put on a superb show, making it a 3-0 lead in the series. The dynamic duo, currently dubbed the best in basketball, sparks a collective 66 points (33 apiece). They particularly triumph - what's more - in the fourth quarter, where they rouse an unparalleled 26 points for the Mavs or 20 for the Wolves.

"I feel like we were both meant for this," Irving said after the game about their exploits in the crucial moments. It's these so-called closers' attributes, the fearless and unflinching plays in the game's later stages that distinguish Doncic and Irving from the Timberwolves. And for the third consecutive time in this series, the Mavs lag behind in the fourth quarter, only to secure the win yet again.

In the climax of this series, Doncic and Irving average nearly 20 points collectively, lay off 12 assists, and hit two-thirds of their threes. Dallas' 116-107 victory in Game 3 extends into the NBA Finals for the first time since they acclaimed their only championship win 13 years ago.

The Mavs have now claimed a five-game winning streak. It's their most impressive series in the playoffs since they garnered a seven-game streak in 2011. Dirk Nowitzki applauds on the court with his successors and couldn't be prouder of Doncic and company, as he articulates in every interview.

Although it was unforeseen just a few months ago, Nowitzki's heirs may potentially reach the NBA Finals. Throughout the first half of the season, Doncic played his usual self, but the Mavericks' defense was as awful as it had been in preceding seasons. A longstanding flaw of the franchise. In spring 2024, during the transfer period, the Texans acquired P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford.

With the newly acquired power forward and the center, everything alters. The Mavericks' defense in the second half of the season ascends to one of the finest in the NBA, and Doncic and Irving's synergy escalates, as both, at last, evade injuries. Despite the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, or even the Minnesota Timberwolves being deemed as formidable rivals, no one in the multitude of TV shows and podcasts, apart from ESPN expert Tim Legler, believes in the Mavs triumphing to the Western Conference Finals. Yet even he predicted that the Nuggets with MVP Nikola Jokic would make it to a further championship.

Nevertheless, the voracious Mavs leave fans and pundits stupefied. In the first playoff round against the Clippers, some embrace their advancement, albeit due to superstar Kawhi Leonard's absence. Then against the Thunder, numerous select the rookie team that led the regular season, the odds solidly skew against Dallas. Against the Timberwolves, who had recently defeated the champion Nuggets in an exciting series, practically everyone wagers on the team from Minnesota.

Eventually, the Timberwolves are recognized for their remarkable defense. Plus, they have Gobert and Anthony Edwards in their ranks. The 22-year-old "Ant-Man" is receiving endless accolades from American media as the new face of the NBA and even being compared to a young Michael Jordan. Before the initial game against Dallas, he proclaims that he will confront Kyrie Irving - only to be dismissed offensively and defensively so aggressively that Edwards reportedly requires supplemental oxygen during the matches.

Yet, it's not just the main attractions Irving and Doncic who hold the fort in Dallas. The so-called supporting actors, the co-stars, contribute significantly to the victories as well. Take 20-year-old Super Rookie Dereck Lively, who lost his mom to cancer in April. He now plays like a seasoned center with years of playoff experience. There's Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. with their tenacious defense and crucial three-pointers, and Gafford with his dunks and blocks. Together, they exude an edgy attitude reminiscent of the 2011 Dallas team with Tyson Chandler.

After their win on Sunday, Doncic purported, "We have a 'Next-Man-Up' mentality." Lively is predicted to miss Game 4 because of a neck and head injury. However, because Dallas expects a replacement to come forward, Doncic's remark might apply to Kleber. He has been an integral part of the Mavericks' success in the past and played a key role in their Western Conference Finals appearance two years ago, hitting ten of eighteen three-point attempts and providing commendable defense.

Kleber, a versatile power forward and center, has been out since a shoulder injury in the opening round of this season. He could potentially return in the likely final. "Next-Man-Up" would aptly define his role. It's a certainty that a third title series will take place in the Mavericks' history (after the defeat in '06 and the victory against the Miami Heat '11). Historically, a 3:0 lead in the NBA playoffs is unbeatable. No team in the NBA's annals has overturned such a deficit in 155 attempts.

In Game 4, Irving and Doncic take the stage again. Irving, at 32, has found a new home and hasn't played this well since his NBA championship with the Cavaliers in '16 alongside LeBron James. He wows with his ball handling, the league's best, and his leadership skills. He mentors young players and demonstrates a competitive work ethic, a commendable shift from his scandals in the last few years.

Doncic also puts in the grind. Defense, where critics often hammered him, is now his forté. He's proven himself against the Thunder and the Wolves, defending fiercely and proving his ability to spearhead an NBA team to success while improving his teammates. Despite a knee injury from the first playoff round, he continues to play. Nick Wright, an NBA analyst from Fox Sports, calls him "one of the best offensive players in history."

Since his debut in '18, Doncic has stunned with his sheer talent and vast array of moves. Even with two defenders, he's unstoppable because of his height and unsurpassed ball handling. He sets up the step-back three-pointer or a vintage Nowitzki fadeaway, showing an unparalleled scoring acumen. Doncic's repertoire - the largest in the NBA - is forever growing.

After conquering the Wolves, a momentous showdown with Boston awaits. The Celtics, the most complete and exceptional team this season, swept the Pacers 4:0, with three of the four games ending in the final moments. It's exciting to witness how Irving will fare against his former team, as the separation had not been amicable. Or how Porzingis, who left the Mavericks in 2019-20 because he and Doncic lacked maturity, will perform.

Naturally, the Timberwolves must fall first. But the Mavericks boast the superstar duo of Doncic and Irving, who were frowned upon last year and are now rewriting the Dallas narrative with Doncic mimicking Dirk Nowitzki. "No team can contain Kyrie and Luka's game. They determine the terms of play. They're that gifted," says Tim Legler, an avid believer in the Dallas Mavericks since the early days. "They're the best offensive duo at the guard position we've ever witnessed."