Rick Carlisle Calls Mavs 'Legitimate Contenders' With History-Making Luka Doncic

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle praised the recent trade deadline moves the Mavs made before Sunday's matchup, calling them "really legitimate contenders."

INDIANAPOLIS — Before the Indiana Pacers defeated the Dallas Mavericks with a final score of 133-111 on Sunday evening, the Mavs entered the matchup on a seven-game winning streak as one of the NBA's hottest teams. 

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle highlighted the recent moves the Mavs made to bolster their roster, including the trade deadline additions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford — adding needed size, skill, and toughness. 

“They’ve increased their size, their skill, their depth, their toughness, and positioned themselves really well for the stretch run,” Carlisle said before the game. 

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Not only did the Mavs get bigger by adding Gafford, but Carlisle sees Washington as an "underrated player" with a lot of versatility. Maxi Kleber still factors in as another intriguing frontcourt option, along with Dereck Lively II, who continues to impress people around the NBA with his development. 

“They got bigger. Gafford is a big force at the rim. He can rebound. ... Lively is developing in front of everyone’s eyes, and P.J. Washington is an underrated player. He’s very versatile, he can play (power forward), he shoots, he can make plays, he can play small ball five if needed," Carlisle said. "They have Kleber, who can play both of those positions as well. They’re really, really deep.”

Carlisle, who served as the first head coach of Luka Doncic's NBA career, praised the impact the Slovenian superstar has provided the Mavs this season. Doncic finished with 33 points, six rebounds, and six assists against the Pacers. With Doncic's production, along with Kyrie Irving as a superstar backcourt partner, Carlisle sees the Mavs as being "really legitimate contenders."

“What Luka’s doing this year, I don’t even know how you describe it,” Carlisle said. “He’s re-writing history with what he’s doing with scoring and assists and assisted baskets. And Irving is playing great. These guys are in a very small group of teams that are really legitimate contenders.”

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Doncic has averaged 34.3 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds in 49 games this season, making him one of the NBA's top candidates to win the MVP award. Carlisle continued to highlight Doncic as being a future MVP of the league, as well as someone who will ultimately win a championship. 

“I don’t know who didn’t,” Carlisle said. “I think everybody saw amazing things for him. I’ve been saying for several years that it’s just a matter of time before he’s an MVP and a Finals MVP and all that. Certainly, this year he’s right there with all those conversations.”-