Luka Doncic Sees An ‘Amazing’ Opportunity To Play Alongside Dirk Nowitzki


Getty Image

If all goes right in Dallas, the greatest European basketball player of all-time will hand off the reigns to perhaps the most hyped European prospect to ever come into the NBA when he decides to retire. The Mavericks made sure that scenario was put into play this summer, as Dirk Nowtizki made the decision to come back for his record-setting 21st season with the organization.

But before that happened, Dallas made a decision that could shape the future of the franchise for at least the next decade when it traded up from the No. 5 spot in the 2018 NBA Draft to select Real Madrid ace Luka Doncic. The team was still in a minor state of limbo for a few more weeks regarding Nowitzki’s immediate future because they didn’t agree to a new deal, but on July 23, it became official that Germany’s greatest basketball export will give it at least one more go.

Doncic spoke to Dime over the weekend at Panini’s NBA Rookie Photo Shoot, where he suited up in the Mavs’ uniform for the first time. In his eyes, an “amazing” opportunity to learn from one of the best to ever do it is now on the table.

“It’s amazing, it’s just amazing,” Doncic says with a smile on his face. “I’m so glad he signed one year more and I’m so glad I can be with him, play with him, and have him as a mentor.”

Doncic is aware of the perception that European basketball players — and all rookies, for that matter — have as they come into the league. He knows he has to work on his athleticism and put on a little more weight, but he’s hopeful that once the ball gets rolled out there, he’ll get to show exactly why the Mavericks made drafting him a priority.

As for what he wants to learn from Nowtizki, Doncic knows not to identify any one thing. Sure, the Slovenian says he believes his passing and ability to see “a lot of the court” are his best assets, but he knows that the opportunity to learn from a future Hall of Fame inductee doesn’t come around all that often.

Getty Image

“I would say everything,” Doncic says about the biggest thing he wants to learn from Nowitzki. “He’s been amazing to the league, he’s not just been one of the best internationals, he’s one of the best NBA players ever.”

Whether he only gets one year to pick Nowitzki’s brain or if the legendary big man comes back for anything more remains to be seen. Until then, Doncic knows he has an opportunity that most players would dream of, and fully intends on taking advantage of the situation.

×