Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford Show Love to Dallas Mavs' Superstar Duo: 'Most Skilled Backcourt Ever?'

Heading into their first full season together, Mavs' Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have a chance to be one of the best duos in all of basketball.

As the 2023-24 NBA season kicks off next week, the Dallas Mavericks are ready to bounce back from a disappointing campaign last season that ended in missing the playoffs.

From the looks of most preseason rankings and predictions across the league, the Mavs find themselves between the middle and the bottom of the Western Conference playoff race, but that doesn't take away from the star power they hold.

TNT analysts Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and three-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford revealed their thoughts on the Mavericks for this upcoming season during a conference call on Tuesday with NBA reporters, showing love to Dallas' superstar duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

“In terms of when I'm at home and I've got my remote control and I'm getting ready to turn on DirectTV and look at League Pass, I'm going to Dallas!” Miller said. “All right? Popcorn ready."

"You've got two players that I want to see on a nightly basis that can give you 50-plus [points] but will be leading off SportsCenters with some type of double-triple-crossover; an unbelievable pass; making someone touch Mother Earth from a crossover; and giving you buckets," Miller added.

Mavericks' Luka Doncic and Kyrie irving dap each other up during player introductions / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Crawford followed up Miller's view of the Mavs with quite the statement in favor of the star-studded backcourt of Doncic and Irving.

"To further and go right with Reg, you can make an argument that these two are the most skilled backcourt players to ever play together" Crawford said. "Ever."

Despite the love shown to Dallas' duo by Miller and Crawford, the two voiced the importance of the Mavs' defense, specifically the addition of Grant Williams, and being able to hold each other accountable, if they want to return to the Western Conference Finals, let alone make the playoffs.

"He was that type of defensive player, and a guy who was used to playing with two guys who are ball-dominant, in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown," Miller said of Williams. "So he's used to playing with two guys, and knowing where to maneuver on a court, that are ball dominant. So the pickup of Grant Williams is sneaky-good for Dallas."

"He contributes to winning, Reg. He's a winning player," Crawford said of Williams. "You want him on your team if you’re trying to win."

The star power of Doncic and Irving is certainly a starting point for the Mavs and will always draw attention and eyeballs to the team when they hit the floor every night. But, as Miller and Crawford stated, it's on the defensive end of the floor where Dallas must make improvements if they want to contend.

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