Sports
Luka Doncic Shines in Postseason Despite Finals Loss, Al Horford’s Wait for First Title Ends, USA Basketball’s Holiday History, and More NBA Highlights
Luka Doncic‘s first trip to the NBA Finals didn’t result in his first championship. However, the Dallas Mavericks star showcased exceptional performance, leading in points, rebounds, and assists.
Doncic became only the second player in NBA history to finish the postseason as the leader in all three of those categories, a feat achieved last year by LeBron James. Standing out with 635 points, 208 rebounds, and 178 assists, Doncic solidified his impact on these playoffs.
Joining a highly exclusive group, Luka Doncic scored 3,005 points this season, playoffs included, making him the 11th player in NBA history to hit the 3,000-point milestone in a single season.
Another notable individual in the NBA highlights is Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics. After finally clinching his first NBA Championship this season, Holiday gears up to represent USA Basketball at the Paris Games, marking a chance to replicate his previous accomplishments.
Jrue Holiday has the opportunity to become the third player to secure an NBA or WNBA title and an Olympic or FIBA World Cup gold medal in the same calendar year on multiple occasions. Scottie Pippen and Sue Bird are the other distinguished athletes who have achieved this feat.
Boston Celtics’ victory this season brought their playoff record to 16-3, ranking it as the 10th-best postseason performance by a team in NBA history. While the Celtics prevailed with an impressive record, it falls short of Golden State’s 16-1 record in 2017, deemed as the highest in the league’s history.
Boston Celtics now stand as the most decorated NBA franchise with 17 titles, exceeding the Los Angeles Lakers’ record. The intense competition between the two historic teams has been a defining narrative in the league’s history.
Al Horford, the Celtics’ center, finally breaks his streak of 186 playoff games without a championship. As a vital contributor to the team’s success, Horford’s dedication over the years has culminated in a well-deserved NBA title.
As the NBA season draws to a close, the Celtics are poised to receive a substantial share of the league’s playoff pool, totaling $12,059,435. This marks a record sum distributed among the playoff teams, with each member set for a significant bonus in recognition of their efforts.