Just 19, Luka Doncic has risen to a leadership role on the Dallas Mavericks this season. He almost got a spot on the NBA鈥檚 all-star team 鈥� but didn鈥檛. Still, he鈥檒l join this weekend鈥檚 all star festivities in North Carolina.
Commentators say often carries the team 鈥� game after game 鈥� win or lose. That pressure doesn't bother the Slovenian native.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something 鈥� I welcome it for sure,鈥� Doncic says in his halting English. 鈥淚 always want to be the guy, you know, that teammates can trust in me.鈥�
This season, team members have entrusted Doncic as the Mav鈥檚 leading go-to shooter when the game鈥檚 on the line. Not only is he among the league鈥檚 top clutch shooters as the clock ticks down, he鈥榮 also an expert passer and blocker.
Newly acquired teammate a member of the NBA鈥檚 All-Rookie team in 2014, admires the teen鈥檚 skills.
鈥淵ou know he鈥檚 great, you鈥檝e got to give the kid credit,鈥� Hardaway said in a recent press conference. 鈥淗e goes out there and competes. He works his tail off and shoots the heck out of the ball. He not only makes the game easier for himself , but makes the game easier for his teammates. He鈥檚 leading by example right now.鈥�
Straight from media availability to the Day of Service event on the concourse! |
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs)
Fans vote their picks for the all-star team, and Doncic got 4.25 million, second behind LeBron James in the Western Conference. But media and players vote, too. In the final tally, Doncic didn鈥檛 make the all-star team.
Did they get it right?
鈥淚f it was me I would say they missed it, because I want to play," Doncic said. "But maybe some guys deserve it more than me, I don't know.鈥�
What we do know:
鈥� On Friday, Feb. 15, Doncic will play in the Mtn Dew Ice game as part of the 2019 All-Star NBA Weekend. It's a contest between some of the NBA鈥檚 best U.S.- born players against some of the best foreign stars.
鈥� Saturday night, Feb. 16, he鈥檒l compete in the Taco Bell , which tests dribbling, passing and 3-point shooting.
Not bad for the star who鈥檚 still a teenager.
The Big 3 in Big D!
— MICHAEL LARK (@themichaellark)
Dallas Mavs CEO stands alongside and at African Heritage Night at the AAC. Go Mavs!
Update: An earlier version of this story said Doncic received more than 6.25 million fan votes. He received 4.25 million.
