Multiple stars will go toe-to-toe starting Thursday in Boston when the Dallas Mavericks meet the Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Great storylines abound. Dallas’ Kyrie Irving will be facing his former team, as will Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis. The Celtics, who swept Indiana in the conference finals, entered the postseason with the league’s best regular-season record.Best porn XXX. The Mavericks, meanwhile, have outperformed their status as fifth seed in the Western Conference. On the lofty stage of the Finals, several players will aim to either cement or begin building legacies. Here are five players with the most at stake: Tatum has made it to five conference finals and one NBA Finals (a loss to Golden State) with the Celtics since entering the NBA in 2017. His current reputation is that of a star who can lead his team toward the finish line but not across it. Oddsmakers like Tatum’s chances. Per FanDuel, the Celtics are favored to win their first NBA title since 2008 and Tatum is favored to win Finals MVP. If Boston wins, Tatum’s stock will rise significantly. He will become the face of the league and be talked about as one of the league’s greatest all-around talents. If Tatum fails, however, the narrative will become that he’s not good enough to be the primary star on a contending team. Irving’s tenure with the Celtics ended in brutal fashion, and his relationship with Boston’s fan base has never recovered. The last time he faced Boston in the playoffs, in 2022, his Brooklyn Nets got swept in four games. Throughout the season, Irving has received praise for his maturity and approach. He has formed an elite partnership with Luka Doncic and led Dallas on a deep postseason run. Should the Mavericks fail to complete their mission, however, Irving will likely come under the microscope again. His ability to play through adversity will be questioned, as will his partnership with Doncic and whether it can yield the desired results in the long term. Horford, 38, is likely on his last contract in the NBA. If he doesn’t lift a championship this season, it’s unlikely he will add one to his resume before bowing out of the league. Horford, one of the Celtics’ veteran leaders, is the ultimate professional, consistently evolving his game to become a threat in the modern NBA. By retiring as a champion, Horford will put himself in the discussion for Basketball Hall of Fame induction. If Boston loses, the HOF chances of this two-time NCAA champion with Florida could take a hit. Only 25, Doncic is playing in his first NBA Finals. Through his six-year NBA career, however, he has more first-round playoff exits (two) than conference finals wins (one). Questions have been posed regarding his heliocentric brand of basketball. Everything runs through Doncic, a ball-dominant star who can be schemed against by shutting down his teammates and enticing him to beat you on his own. If Doncic is bounced out of the Finals, he will likely face the same questions Tatum will if Boston falls. Fans and media will want to know if he has what it takes to lead a team to a championship, and they’ll question whether he’s truly one of the world’s best players. If the Celtics fail to win their 18th NBA title, many fingers will point toward Porzingis, who suffered a right soleus strain during the opening playoff round against the Miami Heat and has not played since. While his legacy likely isn’t on the line, Porzingis could take a hit reputationally if Boston flops in the Finals. Is he a genuine difference-maker or just another player with gaudy stats (19.7 ppg career average) who can’t win the big one? GM Brad Stevens traded for Porzingis last summer to win a title. The time for his acquisition to shine is now. More must-reads: Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
