Kyrie Irving is not one to throw around hyperbole, especially when it comes to players he shares the court with. So when the enigmatic guard made a jaw-dropping statement about Luka Dončić’s practice performance with the Dallas Mavericks, it sent ripples through the NBA world. During a candid conversation, Irving claimed that he once witnessed Luka score an astonishing 24 points in just three minutes during a practice session. Not a game. Not an exhibition. But a casual run on the practice court that left everyone stunned. “He’s probably giving you like 60, 18, and 18 points,” Kyrie said, shaking his head in disbelief. “In three minutes, I saw him give someone twenty-four points.” Whether it was awe, admiration, or just a sheer reflection of Dončić’s transcendent talent, Kyrie’s words felt more like a warning than a compliment.
The magnitude of that statement resonates even louder when considering the setting. Practice is typically where players go through sets, develop chemistry, and condition. It’s not designed for superhuman individual stat lines. Yet, for Luka Dončić, it appears to be another platform to demonstrate just how effortlessly he can dismantle defenses. Three minutes is the length of a single commercial break or a halftime warmup drill. In that short span, Dončić apparently racked up 24 points — a rate of eight points per minute, equivalent to 96 points over a full 12-minute NBA quarter. While that kind of scoring pace in a real game is, of course, unsustainable, the mere fact that he achieved it even in a controlled environment offers insight into his capacity to take over a court at will.
What makes Luka’s style so compelling is how understated it can look. He doesn’t dominate with athleticism in the mold of a Giannis Antetokounmpo or a Zion Williamson. There’s no exaggerated vertical leap, no eye-popping top-end speed, and no over-the-top celebrations. Luka kills you softly, with the kind of surgical precision that leaves defenders reaching, guessing, and ultimately surrendering. His footwork is masterful, his step-back three nearly unguardable, and his vision comparable to some of the league’s all-time great passers. So when Kyrie talks about Luka dropping 24 points in practice minutes, it’s not entirely about brute scoring. It’s about manipulation of space, the use of angles, and mastery over timing.
That’s what separates Dončić from other scorers in the league. He’s not simply trying to score; he’s reading and reacting several steps ahead of the opposition. Every dribble is purposeful, every fake is a calculated misdirection. He slows the game down to his pace — a luxury that only the true greats ever manage to do. Kyrie, a transcendent scorer himself, has shared the court with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum, so for him to single out Luka in this way adds an extra layer of credibility. If anything, it’s the ultimate basketball peer review.
But this isn’t the first time Luka has left teammates and opponents slack-jawed. During the 2023-24 NBA season, Dončić posted eye-watering stat lines on a regular basis. He had a 73-point game against the Atlanta Hawks, numerous 40-point triple-doubles, and became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 3,000 assists. His ability to fill every column of the stat sheet makes the idea of 60, 18, and 18 not so far-fetched. We’re not just talking about a scorer — we’re talking about an offensive conductor, a one-man orchestra that bends the game to his will.
Kyrie’s anecdote, while lacking box score documentation, mirrors what fans, analysts, and coaches have long been saying — that Luka is a basketball savant. This is a player who dropped a 60-point triple-double in a must-win game. A player who, in his early twenties, routinely diced up defensive schemes designed by championship-caliber coaches. The 24 points in three minutes isn’t just some practice court fable; it’s a glimpse into how dangerous Dončić can be when he locks in. The concept may sound mythical, but if there’s anyone who could do it, Luka is certainly on the short list.
Beyond the numbers, it’s important to contextualize what practice really looks like at the NBA level. Practices in Dallas are intense, especially under the stewardship of head coach Jason Kidd. There are stretches of 5-on-5 full-court scrimmages, situational drills, and high-level competition between starters and bench players. So for Luka to go off in this setting isn’t like an All-Star playing against high schoolers. It’s Luka competing against professionals — teammates who’ve studied his every move. And still, he torched them for 24 in a flurry.
This type of outburst does more than just highlight Luka’s offensive capabilities. It speaks to his competitiveness. Practice is often where mental toughness is honed. The greats — from Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant — built legacies on how hard they competed in practice. Dončić’s explosion shows that he takes no possessions off, even when the cameras aren’t rolling. That kind of mentality doesn’t just raise his game; it elevates the entire team. The Mavericks, still in pursuit of a championship, need every bit of that fire, especially from their leader.
For Kyrie, who has been through multiple playoff runs and stood on the biggest stages, witnessing Luka’s capabilities up close must be both empowering and daunting. On one hand, he knows he’s playing alongside a generational talent. On the other, there’s the realization that Luka’s brilliance demands a certain standard from everyone around him. Irving himself has never been known to shy away from the moment, but now he’s in the presence of someone who can replicate — and perhaps exceed — some of the greatest scoring feats of this era.
Kyrie’s testimonial also underscores the intangible effect Luka has. He demoralizes defenders not just with makes, but with the inevitability of them. There’s a psychological weight to watching the same move torch you over and over again, regardless of how well you defend it. Teammates become spectators, opponents become props, and Luka writes the script. Twenty-four points in three minutes isn’t just a burst; it’s a full-blown avalanche, and there’s no pause button once it starts.
