Luka Doncic: Dirk’s been here 21 years; I want to follow his steps

By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net

Dallas Mavericks point-forward Luka Doncic has become the face of the franchise already from his rookie season in the NBA. His next goal? Follow in the footsteps of a Mavericks legend and fellow European player: Dirk Nowitzki

“Dirk’s been here 21 years,” Doncic said. “I want to stay here and follow Dirk’s steps,” Doncic said, per Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com.

“It (building a winning culture) is important. We want to go to the playoffs and I think we can. For sure, that’s my goal this season. The whole team is excited about the season,” the 2019 Rookie Of the Year added. The Mavericks haven’t been in the postseason since 2016. They haven’t made it past the first round since their 2011 championship run.

With Kristaps Porzingis ready to return to action after an 18-month absence and Luka Doncic ready to pick it from where he left it in the previous season, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle can hope that 2018 will bring a playoffs return. And Doncic is expected to play a big part in this.

Actually, Carlisle considers Doncic so unique that he’s “untradeable”

“I wouldn’t trade him for anybody. I wouldn’t trade Doncic for anybody. You step on the floor with guys (like Doncic), it’s a different game,” Carlisle said.

Carlisle had explained what makes Doncic so special.

“I view him as the point guard ever since I gave him the ball last year,” Carlisle said. “He’s a very unique point guard. We haven’t seen a guy exactly like him, really, ever in the NBA – 6-7 and has this particular skill set, his kind of strength, speed and quickness, feel, ingenuity on the floor. So he’s a very, very exciting player. And very exciting to work with because he has a savant like ability to view the game and see things before they happen.

“All that stuff is great. But one of the challenges is you got to play with four other guys out there. And I really think one of the things that makes him the most special is that he has the ability when he steps on the floor to make four other guys significantly better and has the ability to make the game much easier for them. And players like this are very rare.”

 

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