As I was scrolling through Twitter last night before I fell asleep, my feed — and likely yours, too — started blowing up with highlights from the Mavs game. Everyone from your average NBA fan to LeBron and Steph was going nuts. Luka was at it again.
In case you missed it, or like me, want to watch it for the 10th time, here it is:
Now if you’re not a basketball fan, you may not know who Luka Dončić is. In fact, you may have just seen this shot and thought, that was pretty lucky. But this was no anomaly; Dončić has done this time, and time, and time again.
If you’re an avid basketball fan like me, it’s sometimes easy to forget that Dončić is still only 22 years old. He was drafted in 2018 as the 3rd overall pick after dominating the EuroLeague. While there was some skepticism from teams (cough, Sacramento) who weren’t sure if his talents overseas would translate into the NBA game, he has put those doubts to rest emphatically. Dončić has been nothing short of sensational through 2.5 seasons in the league.
He has the complete package on the offensive end, with an ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor. He’s also a gifted passer with unbelievable court vision and high basketball IQ. His physique allows him to match up as a forward, but his skill set is more closely aligned with that of a guard, which is why he draws comparisons to all-time greats such as LeBron, Bird, and Magic. Dončić is a bonafide stud.
As a Brooklyn Nets fan, I have no affiliation to the Mavericks. Yet, it’s impossible not to love Dončić, and I think most NBA fans feel the same way. It’s not an exaggeration to say he could be the best 22-year-old NBA player ever. We can’t ever take this level of greatness for granted, though. I learned this the hard way.
I loved watching LeBron play in the 2000s, but following “The Decision”, I turned against him. I regret this. While I spent so much time actively rooting against him, I missed out on appreciating some of his finest years while he was a member of the Heat, including his signature 2011-2012 campaign. Recently, I went back and watched this masterpiece. It was like watching a completely different game. I was now seeing the game as an unbiased fan, but with knowledge of the outcome. I wish I had fully appreciated LeBron’s greatness in the moment.
I’m not going to make the same mistake again. I’m sitting back and enjoying what we are witnessing with Dončić. Time to watch that buzzer-beater again.