Jaylen Brown and the Celtics faced a formidable opponent in the NBA Finals, managing to overcome Luka Doncic’s impressive performance. Doncic averaged nearly 29 points per game during the Mavericks’ unexpected 22-game playoff run.
In the Finals, Doncic almost secured a double-double, averaging 29.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. However, his efforts were not enough to secure an upset, as the Mavericks’ championship hopes were dashed when the Celtics won Game 5 at TD Garden, claiming their 18th franchise title.
Before celebrating with his teammates, NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown made sure to acknowledge Doncic’s impact on the series. In a mic’d-up video, Brown told Doncic, “Luka, you’re a killer. You got the best out of me. I love you, bro.”
Looking ahead, the Mavericks will face a tough challenge returning to the Finals next season with an even more competitive Western Conference. However, oddsmakers still have high expectations for Doncic, who had the second shortest odds to win the league MVP next season as of Friday, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
