Luka Doncic and his Dallas Mavericks are set to take on the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. Things get started with Game 1 from Boston on Thursday.
While not necessarily living up to the narratives we’ve seen during Super Bowl week around the NFL, some drama is taking hold heading into Thursday’s series opener. No, it does not include Kyrie Irving taking on his former Celtics squad.
Rather, it’s all about Doncic’s relationship with former Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis. The two spent parts of a three seasons together in Big D after Porzingis was acquired from the New York Knicks during the 2018-19 campaign.
It did not go swimmingly, with Dallas losing in the first round following their first season together. After the Mavericks suffered another first-round playoff loss the following season, Porzingis was ultimately shipped off to the Washington Wizards.
This past offseason saw “The Unicorn” moved to the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster trade. Now, with Porzingis and Doncic set to go up against one another, we’re hearing some more about their relationship.
Related: Luka Doncic Tries Celebrating NBA Finals Appearance, Has Beer Swiped By Management
Chandler Parsons Claims Beef Between Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis
While he never played with either star, former NBAer just recently indicated that there is a major beef between Doncic and Porzingis.
“They do not like Porzingis in Dallas. Luka did not like playing with him, there is an actual beef there,” Parsons said recently on FanDuel’s Run it Back.
While the two didn’t necessarily have success on the court, there is no indication that a beef exists. Parsons is seemingly coming out of left field with this statement.
Again, he did not play with either Doncic or Porzingis during his career. A second-round pick of the Houston Rockets in 2011, Parsons also suited up with the Dallas Mavericks (before Doncic’s arrival), Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks before calling it quits following the 2019-20 season.
Related: Mavericks’ Star Luka Doncic Had Fan Ejected Because He Told Him To Get His ‘A**On A Treadmill’
Luka Doncic Has Perfect Response To Chandler Parsons’ Claims
Speaking to media a couple days ahead of Game 1, Doncic’s response to Parson’s claims was about as good as it gets. Talk about throwing shade.
“I’ve talked to Chandler Parsons maybe twice in my life. I don’t know how he would know that. KP and I have a good relationship. I don’t know why people say otherwise,” Luka Doncic told reporters.
That should put an end to this conversation, right? Not too fast.
Porzingis is set to return to action in the NBA Finals after being sidelined since the first round of the NBA Playoffs with a calf strain. If he is indeed on the court, it will be interesting to see the dynamics play out. After all, we know full well Doncic loves to trash talk opponents.
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