Luka Doncic

Andrew Wiggins may have had the dunk of the 2022 NBA playoffs on Sunday.

With just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Golden State Warriors' 109-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks, Wiggins caught the ball on the perimeter, blew by a closing Reggie Bullock and took flight from a few feet inside the free-throw line before annihilating Luka Doncic (and likely the Mavericks' playoff run):

ANDREW WIGGINS POSTER ON LUKA 🤯 https://t.co/EMwNh6mnEY

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 23, 2022

Officials, perhaps experiencing the same level of shock as everyone else in the building, initially called a charge. Warriors coach Steve Kerr successfully challenged, and the bucket stretched Golden State's lead to 10.

Mustering enough momentum to overcome that moment and a double-digit lead was ultimately impossible for the Mavs, who now trail the Warriors 0-3.

This series is effectively over, and Wiggins may have as much to do with that as anyone. But getting to this culminating moment wasn't easy.

Nine years ago, in May 2013, an 18-year-old Wiggins, wearing a baby blue Huntington Prep jersey, appeared on the cover of the iconic SLAM Magazine alongside Jabari Parker.

Below them, in bold, block lettering, the caption read: Young Money: The Game's Next Superstars Have Arrived.

After one of the most hyped-up freshman campaigns of the modern era, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves, selected him with the first overall pick in 2014. And despite winning Rookie of the Year in 2014-15, much of Wiggins' NBA career was characterized by disappointment.

He's tied for 18th in his draft class in career wins over replacement player. He's only had one season (his second) with an above-average true shooting percentage. And prior to this season, he'd only made the playoffs once (just before Jimmy Butler very publicly ditched him and Karl-Anthony Towns for the Philadelphia 76ers).

In Minnesota, Wiggins did plenty of scoring, sure. But his defense, passing and shot selection were underwhelming. After five years and change there, he was traded to the Warriors, who've spent two-plus seasons molding him into a bona fide three-and-D wing who recognizes when moments like Sunday's present themselves.

Andrew Wiggins is proof a player can change for the better. Right situation. Right mindset. All the loud criticism of his shot selection and defensive consistency is over.

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 19, 2022

In the 2022 Western Conference Finals, he's seen and seized plenty.

After Wiggins went for 27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in Game 3, he has officially entered the race for the league's first Western Conference Finals MVP (an award that was just announced earlier this month).

His basic numbers (20.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 threes) against Dallas are eye-opening, but they're not gaudy enough to give him the nod over teammate Stephen Curry (28.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 4.7 threes and a 47.8 three-point percentage).

What really gives Wiggins a case is what's highlighted his evolution throughout his tenure with the Warriors.

He's put defense ahead of highlights and notoriety, and in the process, made and received plenty of both.

Mikal Bridges is the only player who's spent more time matched up with Doncic this postseason, and it took him seven games to do so. And the difference in the Mavericks' offense when Luka is defended by Wiggins is striking.

This postseason, Dallas has scored just 100.4 points per 100 possessions when Wiggins is on Luka. In the regular season, the Mavs put up 114.3 points per 100 possessions in the half court.

Wiggins has spent plenty of possessions hounding Doncic for 94 feet. The length and athleticism that made him such a highly touted prospect a decade ago are helping him stay in front on isolations. And he hasn't allowed himself to be bullied in the post, unlike most of the guards and wings for the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns.

On the other end, Wiggins' improvements in both volume and efficiency from the outside have been game-changing for him and the Warriors.

This season, he attempted a career-high 4.3 catch-and-shoot threes per game and converted 41.0 percent of those attempts. He also posted a career high in three-point-attempt rate (percentage of shots that came from beyond the line). As his frequency on those shots has gone up, his reliance on long twos has also declined.

He's now willing and able to be a dedicated floor-spacer for Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. And since defenders now know they have to respect his range on kick-outs, his drives are as dangerous as they've ever been.

Sunday's monster drive and jam over Luka was a perfect example. Wiggins was 1-of-5 from three to that point of the game, but a season of evidence forced Bullock to close hard. That, in turn, got him burned off the bounce. And it put Luka square in the danger zone.

Despite all the challenges Wiggins faced to get to this point, he's still capable of staggering displays of explosiveness.

That, better decision-making and a commitment to defense has all impacted Golden State's bottom line. This series, the Warriors are plus-28.9 points per 100 possessions when Wiggins is on the floor. That's the highest mark on the team. They're minus-38.7 when he's off, which is the furthest that needle goes for any Warrior in the other direction.

Embracing a less prominent role didn't sap Wiggins of his scoring or ability to leap over 6'7" humans. It just allowed him to allocate more of himself to the less glamorous parts of the game. It made him a better player.

And adding that player to one of the best and most decorated trios in NBA history makes Golden State an increasingly obvious pick to win this whole thing.

Luka Doncic may have gotten put on a poster by Andrew Wiggins, but even the Dallas Mavericks guard couldn't help but be floored by the display of athleticism.

"I got hit a little bit, but that was impressive. I'm not gonna lie," Doncic told reporters after the Mavericks' 109-100 Game 3 loss to Golden State on Sunday. "I saw the video again and I was like, 'Oof.' That was pretty incredible. I wish I had those bunnies."

Slam Dunks look even better in slow-motion 🎥 #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/iDdcR8W1Tv

— NBA UK (@NBAUK) May 23, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flc5LzrvE8I?

While it will go down as one of the most incredible dunks in NBA playoff history, Wiggins' slam almost didn't count. The Warriors forward was initially whistled for an offensive foul as Doncic went to the ground, leading coach Steve Kerr to use his challenge. Officials overturned the call, putting the Warriors ahead 93-83 with 6:38 remaining. 

"That's a guy who has been criticized for being lackadaisical, and the beat goes on," Draymond Green told reporters. "You've heard it all. Yet on the biggest stage, he's come through. It's great to see—absolutely amazing to see him pick up his level of play."

Wiggins finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in the victory, which gave the Warriors a 3-0 series lead. He's spent most of the series as Doncic's primary defender on the other end of the floor as well. Doncic has certainly been able to pour in his buckets, going for a game-high 40 on Sunday night, but Wiggins has used his effort and athleticism to make things difficult.

Often maligned for his failure to live up to No. 1 pick hype in Minnesota and for inconsistent play at times in Golden State, Wiggins has come into his own in his current Warriors role. The onus is not on Wiggins every night to be a superstar, but to simply come in and fit into the Warriors system. He's done that in spades and now has an iconic playoff moment on his resume.

Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic criticized the team's defense after falling 126-117 to the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Friday.

When asked what went wrong during a third quarter that saw the Warriors outscore the Mavs by 12 points, Doncic pointed to team defense and the need to improve it moving forward (beginning at the 30-second mark):

"We've got to attack the paint more" - @luka7doncic @dallasmavs | 📺 BSSW | #dALLasIN | #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/O5INIZmRen

— FanDuel Sports Network Southwest (@FanDuelSN_SW) May 21, 2022

"Bad defense, that's it," Doncic said. "We've gotta concentrate on our defense these two games. Our defense has gotta improve a lot."

With Friday's Game 2 loss, the Mavericks now trail the series 2-0 and are in desperate need of a Game 3 win in Dallas.

Golden State had its way with Dallas during the second half, outscoring the Mavs 68-45.

Efficiency was the name of the game for head coach Steve Kerr's squad, as they shot 56.1 percent from the field, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 80 percent from the free-throw line, all of which were figures that topped the Mavs.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole all shot 50 percent or better from the field, while Kevon Looney proved almost unstoppable in the paint.

The unheralded center finished with 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds in one of the most unexpected performances of the postseason thus far.

While the likes of Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith usually defend well in the paint, they had no answers for Looney.

Dallas had a 72-58 lead at halftime and seemed to be trending toward tying the series at 1-1, but the Mavs fell apart in the third quarter, scoring just 13 points and allowing Golden State to cut the deficit to two.

The Warriors then imposed their will in the fourth quarter, as their 43 points were the most in a quarter by either team Friday night. Looney's interior play never allowed Dallas to fully focus on the perimeter.

Doncic carried the Mavericks to wins at times during the first two rounds of the playoffs, but his game-high 42 points were nowhere near enough to beat the Dubs on Friday.

Dallas will need another big offensive performance from Doncic in Game 3, but if the Mavericks don't defend at a far higher level, the series may not even make it back to San Francisco.

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic "is not 100 percent" for Game 2 of his team's Western Conference Finals matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Friday at Chase Center because of an illness, according to TNT's Allie LaForce.

"He [Doncic] just told me about an hour ago that he didn't feel sick until after he got to the hotel after Game 1," LaForce said on Inside the NBA (h/t Ali Thanawalla of NBC Sports Bay Area). She added:

Gets to his room and he's throwing up, he cannot sleep for even a second. So he wasn't 100 percent at practice the next day. I said, 'Well, did you get better sleep last night?' and he said 'Eh, not really.' I said, 'Well, did you sleep eight hours?' And he said, 'No, but I did get better sleep than the night before.' So he is on very little sleep. He did sound stuffed up to me still. He is not 100 percent.

Doncic had 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting and seven turnovers in a 112-87 loss in Game 1 on Wednesday.

Those numbers are far worse than Doncic's typical regular-season and playoff performances.

Of note, the 23-year-old averaged 32.6 points on 47.6 percent shooting, 9.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game against the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in the second round. He averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists in the regular season.

Ultimately, no one played all that well for the Mavs in Game 1 aside from perhaps Spencer Dinwiddie (17 points in 24 minutes), but this series is a long way from being over.

And the illness hasn't appeared to affect Doncic early on, as the superstar made four of his first five shots from the field Friday.

Dallas and Golden State won't have much time to rest in this series, with a game scheduled every other day. The conference finals will head to Dallas for Game 3 on Sunday at American Airlines Center.

Who's the best player left in the NBA playoffs?

Analysts and fans all over the internet, TV and anywhere else that takes are dispensed seemed to be asking that question ahead of the conference finals.

With each of the four remaining teams boasting a candidate, the question naturally took over the discussion. In the East, the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum, respectively. In the West, 23-year-old Luka Doncic was the answer for plenty.

After the Golden State Warriors' 112-87 dismantling of the Dallas Mavericks in Wednesday's Game 1, it's time to reintroduce Stephen Curry to the topic.

In just 31 minutes, Curry had 21 points and 12 rebounds. He took over a stint of a vintage third quarter from the Warriors that put the game on ice, but that was after a shaky first half that added fodder to the debate (4-of-10 from the field, 1-of-6 from three and 3-of-6 from the stripe).

Over his 12 seasons prior to 2021-22, Curry put up 8.6 threes per game and hit an absurd 43.3 percent of those attempts. But he finished this campaign at 38 percent from deep, and he converted just 35.9 percent of his triples in the playoffs prior to Game 1. The looks weren't any different, but they just weren't going in at the same rate.

So, even though his team had returned to the conference finals behind his 26.9 points per game against the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies, Curry was suddenly an afterthought in much of the analysis of this matchup with Dallas.

Fox Sports' Shannon Sharpe declared, "Luka Doncic is the best player left in the playoffs...":

"Luka Dončić is the best player left in the playoffs and I don't need stats to back it up, my eyes are very good. He's made mincemeat out of the best defensive players. If he keeps this up, it'll be hard pressed for him not to be the best player in the world."

— @ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/7Cd9gG0Hu5

— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) May 17, 2022

ESPN's JJ Redick proclaimed that he'd rather have Luka than Curry for a hypothetical late-game possession:

“We’re talking about right now, 2022. Who would you rather have with the ball, with the game on the line? It’s clearly Luka Doncic.” 😳

JJ Redick is taking Luka over Steph Curry with the game on the line. Do you agree? https://t.co/5DDycZhiY0

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 17, 2022

Those are both opinions. And they're fine. Frankly, it seemed like they were on the majority's side of the debate. But a few minutes of Curry's third quarter should at least plant a little seed of doubt in the minds of those who were so firmly in Luka's camp.

Dallas was within striking distance coming out of the break, but Curry electrified the arena and put the game out of range in a way only he can.

Just over a minute into the third, he stripped Doncic, calmly brought the ball up the floor against three backpedaling Mavericks and suddenly stepped back for a triple in semi-transition.

Less than a minute later, he got caught on the baseline, flung the ball over his shoulder to halfcourt, relocated into an above-the-break three and danced all over a demoralized Dallas squad that found itself in an onslaught.

Curry feeling himself after this 3 🔥 https://t.co/7O1iS3jnQQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 19, 2022

The takeover didn't last long. And relative to plenty of Curry's big performances in the past, 21 points and 12 boards doesn't sound like much. But like a boxer, Curry's knockout punches can come out of nowhere. When he lands them, the end can come in a hurry, as it did for the Mavs.

Things snowballed from there, and the debate now feels more open.

Luka was a game-worst minus-30 on Wednesday. He had 20 points, but it took him 18 shots to get there. And he almost had twice as many turnovers (seven) as assists (four).

It's way too early to declare that pundits like Sharpe and Redick were wrong, though.

Plenty were lining up to shovel dirt on Doncic after Game 2 against Phoenix, when the Suns relentlessly hunted him. In that game, Second Spectrum tracking had Luka being put in 19 ball screens and the Suns scoring a whopping 1.81 points per possession out of those plays (h/t Tim MacMahon of ESPN). Dallas lost and found itself down 0-2, but the Mavericks won four of the next five while Doncic averaged 29.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.8 steals.

He isn't likely to repeat Wednesday's Game 1 performance against Golden State. Curry took the first round, but either could emerge as the best in the series.

And they'll have plenty of competition from the other side of the bracket waiting on them.

Over his last three postseasons, Jayson Tatum has averaged 27.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.0 threes, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 37.5 percent from three.

No one has ever averaged at least 27.0 points, 7.0 rebounds , 5.9 assists, 3.0 threes, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks over a three-playoff span, and if you remove threes from the equation, LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Tracy McGrady are the only names added to the list.

But in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Tatum was thoroughly outplayed by Miami's candidate. Butler had 41 points, nine boards, five assists, four steals and three blocks. He was 12-of-19 from the field and 17-of-18 from the line.

If Butler wins this series, it's hard to imagine anyone catching him for the playoff lead in value over replacement player.

He, Tatum, Doncic and Curry all have very real "best player left" arguments.

Butler's tenacity on defense, in-between scoring game and playmaking makes Miami tick on both ends.

Tatum's wing defense and playmaking are starting to catch up with the top-end scoring he's brought for years. Doncic's ability to control every aspect of a possession, create for his shooters and bully guards inside has made him one of the most productive playoff performers of all time.

But all three of those stars are chasing something Curry has done three times. If his performance in Game 1 is more of a sign of things to come than a #WaybackWednesday moment, Curry could secure his fourth championship.

And as fun as the "best player left in the playoffs" conversation has been, another Warriors title on the back of vintage Curry play might reopen the "best player in the world" debate.

Statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference and Stathead unless otherwise noted.

The Golden State Warriors hounded Luka Doncic in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, limiting him to 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting in a 112-87 blowout of the Dallas Mavericks.

Andrew Wiggins served as Doncic's primary defender for most of the game, earning praise from his teammates afterward.

"He was moving them puppies tonight," Klay Thompson told reporters. "That's why he was the No. 1 pick. You can't teach that athleticism. You can't teach that length. You can't teach his timing. I'm just happy the world is getting to see who he really is, and that's an incredible wing player, and he will be like this for the next 10 years."

Doncic shot 5-of-11 and turned the ball over three times when defended by Wiggins, who regularly picked the Mavericks guard up full court and harassed him as he brought the ball up the floor.

"I feel like I'm still young. I don't really get too tired," the 27-year-old Wiggins said. "I'm locked in. I'm motivated, and when you see it work or I feel like it's helping us play better, it just motivates me to do it more. I'm not tired or nothing. You know, it's adrenaline. I just feel good."

Wiggins also added 19 points and matched Stephen Curry with a team-high three three-pointers. While his NBA career won't ever match the "Maple Jordan" hype he had coming out of high school, Wiggins has increasingly found his niche in Golden State. He's learned to be a committed defender, shot a career-high 39.3 percent from three during the regular season and seemingly relishes in allowing the spotlight to be on others.

In games where he's fully engaged like Wednesday night, Wiggins can look like the Warriors' second- or third-best player.

After the Dallas Mavericks were blown out 112-87 in Wednesday's Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, Luka Doncic shouldered the blame for the loss.

"I gotta be better, that's not me," Doncic told reporters. "I gotta be better for the whole group."

Doncic finished with a team-high 20 points in the loss, but he shot 6-of-18 from the field and 3-of-10 from three-point land. He was held to just two points in the second half, and he totaled seven turnovers.

The Warriors defense completely shut down the Mavericks. Dallas shot just 36.0 percent from the field and 11-for-48 (22.9 percent) from beyond the arc. Golden State also won the rebounding battle 51-35.

The letdown in Wednesday's contest could be attributed to the Mavericks' emotional seven-game series against the Phoenix Suns in the previous round. Dallas pulled off the upset of the 2022 postseason by blowing out the top-seeded Suns on the road in Game 7 on Sunday to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years.

The Warriors had a few extra days of rest since closing out their series against the Memphis Grizzlies, and they took advantage of the Mavs' sluggish play to cruise to an easy win on Wednesday. Dallas has to come out with better energy in Friday's Game 2 if it hopes to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole.

The Golden State Warriors are usually heralded for their flashy offensive fireworks that provide a slew of entertaining highlights.

But in Wednesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, it was the Warriors defense that carried the team to a 112-87 blowout victory at Chase Center. Golden State held Dallas to 36.0 percent shooting from the field and 11-of-48 (22.9 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Warriors frontcourt of Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney did an outstanding job of shutting down the Mavericks' dribble penetration. In particular, Wiggins played some strong defense on Dallas star Luka Doncic, who finished with 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting with seven turnovers.

Throughout the night, the Dubs received a ton of praise for their effort to stifle the Mavs offense. Some even compared Wednesday's defensive performance to Golden State's title-winning teams.

The Warriors are playing defense like they did in 2015 and 2016. Honestly didn't know if they still had it in 'em.

— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) May 19, 2022

This was one of those vintage Warriors games.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 19, 2022

The Warriors pulled out those designer belts tonight and gave Luka and the Mavs a good old fashion ass whipping!!! They were on Luka ass like back pockets. Carry the hell on…

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 19, 2022

Warriors have used like 10 different defensive looks this game. Kerr getting his Belichick on

— Sam Esfandiari (@samesfandiari) May 19, 2022

There is no way the Mavs are going to win playing against a set Golden State Warriors defense.

— Mark Haynes (@markhaynesnba) May 19, 2022

Warriors lead the Mavericks 54-45 at halftime. Andrew Wiggins has outplayed Luka Doncic so far tonight. Golden State's funky zone defense is giving Dallas fits.

— C.J. Holmes (@HolmesScribe) May 19, 2022

Steve Kerr's staff deserves some credit for being willing to defend Doncic one on one. Not many teams would, and it's working for the Warriors.

— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) May 19, 2022

I know it's just one game, but *on paper* the Grizzlies were a tougher matchup for the Warriors than the Mavericks. Golden State knows exactly how to defend teams like this. That being said, it's a long series.

— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) May 19, 2022

Warriors are hellbent on not giving up the easy switch.

Something the Suns failed to do against the Mavs.

— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) May 19, 2022

Generational defense by the Warriors. Wait until GPII comes back to finish this run in the Finals 👀

— Jim Park🏀🌌 (@Sheridanblog) May 19, 2022

Smothering Warriors defense tonight.

— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) May 19, 2022

Dallas can’t load up on “Boxes & Elbows” defensively vs Warriors.
And all the Wiggins Haters need to apologize. His defense on Luka and making Luka guard him on defense(Wiggs has 19) is huge for GSW.

— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) May 19, 2022

Tonight Andrew Wiggins made Luka look like Baby HummingBird.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 19, 2022

While Golden State's defense was stout Wednesday, the team's offense was also efficient with seven players scoring in double figures. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Jordan Poole added 19 points off the bench.

The Warriors had four days of rest since closing out their semifinal series against the Memphis Grizzlies, but any concerns of a flat performance were alleviated in the opening minutes of Wednesday's game. Golden State opened with the energy and effort on defense that it will need to play consistently if it wants to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019.

The Dubs will look to keep the momentum going in Friday's Game 2.

Fear not, Dallas Mavericks fans.

Luka Doncic will be sober for Wednesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

After a photograph of Luka Doncic holding a beer spread across social media Wednesday, a Mavericks spokesperson said it "wasn't taken today," per TMZ Sports.

https://twitter.com/AttackTheRack/status/1526966747051565057

That means the Dallas star will be ready to roll as he looks to continue dominating the playoffs in what will be his first appearance in the Western Conference Finals.

While Doncic missed the first three games of his team's opening-round victory over the Utah Jazz, he has been brilliant since his return. He averaged 29.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the next three games while helping the Mavericks close out the Jazz and then elevated his game against the top-seeded Phoenix Suns.

He posted 32.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.1 steals per night across the seven contests and dazzled with a 35-point double-double in Game 7 while leading his side to a 123-90 win on the road.

The matchup with the Warriors, who have reached five of the last seven NBA Finals and won three of the first four championships in that span, will give Doncic an opportunity to further cement his stardom on a national stage.

Competing against the championship DNA of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and head coach Steve Kerr will be no easy task, but neither was eliminating the league-best Suns in such dramatic fashion.

If Doncic keeps playing at the level he has throughout the playoffs, the Mavericks may win the entire thing.

And if they do, any beer drinking will surely be celebratory.        

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic heaped praise on Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green ahead of their Western Conference Finals matchup.

"Obviously, [Klay Thompson] and [Stephen Curry] are incredible offensive guys, but I think the key to the Warriors' team is Draymond," Doncic told reporters Tuesday. "He's just unbelievable. I really respect him and everything he does."

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, "That includes trash talk."

"That's the fun of the game. I love that part," Doncic added.

Game 1 will go down on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET at San Francisco's Chase Center.

Both Doncic and Green are coming off phenomenal performances.

Doncic dropped a game-high 35 points en route to a 123-90 win over the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. He notably led the Mavs in points, rebounds, assists and steals during the series.

Green had a 14-point, 15-rebound, eight-assist showing in a series-clinching 110-96 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6. He's a battle-tested jack-of-all-trades who has won three NBA titles and earned four All-Star nods during his career.

Green hasn't been shy about complimenting Doncic and has done so on multiple occasions:

Draymond Green on Luka Doncic: “That dude good...he gonna be a problem...He’s lifted that franchise.” pic.twitter.com/Dfc5DG0TD0

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 23, 2018

Draymond Green: "Luka Doncic made a statement where he said 'It's easier for me to score in the NBA than it was for me to score in Europe' and everybody went crazy, like 'how disrespectful is he'.

He's shown that it's true."https://t.co/lxDCcLGsUG

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 9, 2021

There isn't exactly a war of words or bulletin-board material being swapped between two teams who clearly have mutual respect for one another.

Doncic also discussed the loud and passionate Warriors fanbase:

Luka Doncic soundbites on the Warriors today. He talked style of play, Draymond Green and the Chase Center crowd: “This a loud gym, man. I’m not lying.” pic.twitter.com/XKXaEEiGGK

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 17, 2022

Doncic is clearly living in the moment as he advances to his first-ever conference finals.

Luka Doncic: “I’m living my best life right now.” pic.twitter.com/mgHc9xa1nu

— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) May 17, 2022

The Warriors are back in the conference finals for the first time since 2019, which capped a five-year stretch in which they made it to the NBA Finals (three titles). Dallas is making its return for the first time since 2011, when it went on to win the Finals over the Miami Heat.