He is only 21 years old and is just entering his third season in the NBA, but his name is already installed as that of one of the best players in the world. This Tuesday night, Luka Doncic became one of the great protagonists of a new day of the most important basketball league in the world. And he did it hand in hand with another superlative performance for his team.
The Slovenian point guard for the Dallas Mavericks took all eyes in the duel against the Boston Celtics, one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. In what was an even game, the number 77 was decisive in a film closing. With less than 20 seconds remaining, Doncic took the ball with his team losing by one point (104-105) and made a series of feints to leave the German Daniel Theis on the road and scored a triple that gave him an advantage of two.
On the next play, it was Jaylen Brown who came forward in Boston, who penetrated to equalize the score at 107. The Mavericks then had the last ball of the evening and, unsurprisingly, Luka took over the play. . Once the former Real Madrid point guard passed half the court, he headed to the left side of the offensive and, diagonally towards the basket, almost eight meters from the basket, tried a shot that only touched the net and left him 0.1 seconds on the clock to the Celtics.
The score was 110-107 for Dallas, reaching its 15th win of the season in which it has lost the same number. All thanks to Doncic, who finished with 31 points (6 of 8 shooting behind the three-point crescent) and also added 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Once the game was over at the American Airlines Arena, the Slovenian had contact with the press and referred to the compelling definition of the game. ” It’s something that I’ve been doing, that I’m trying to do, ” said Doncic, who missed a shot similar to the one he made last night to tie the game against the Trail Blazers on Sunday. “Sometimes you’re going to lose it, like the last game against Portland. Sometimes you will make it, ” he added.
For his part, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle had nothing but praise for his star player’s double play. “He is a unique player, a unique person,” confessed the coach.
“The wiring of people like Luka Doncic, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, players who have this laser-like approach in these situations. It’s difficult to explain how their minds and brains work, ” he added in his analysis of what happened at the end of the game against Boston.
It is important to remember that Doncic was chosen by the people to start the next All-Star Game that will take place on March 7 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The Slovenian was second in the voting among the bases behind Stephen Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, and added more than 1,395,000 votes through social networks.
So far in the 2020-2021 campaign, the Slovenian is one of the most dominant players in the NBA, rising as one of the potential candidates for MVP of the season. He averages almost 29 points per game (he is fifth on the list), 9.2 assists (he ranks fourth) and 8.6 rebounds to be among the top 20 in that category. (GG) (Infobae)