Luka Doncic: the ‘Wonder Boy’ of the NBA

“He does what many take years to learn”, Michael Jordan. “The scariest thing is that he still has fifteen years of career ahead of him,” Shaquille O’Neal. “I like everything in Doncic. He is my favorite player”Lebron James. “It’s fun to see a genius”JerryWest. “I don’t want to put the pressure on him to compare him to ‘Magic’ Johnson. But it is like him in the way of seeing the game.Gregg Popovich.

Defining a superstar is an infinite, insufficient and even reckless exercise. People tend to run the risk of being clouded by current affairs and irresponsibly praising at close range.

All of us who have the task of putting into words the skills, feats and failures of those who attract the attention of the world thanks to what they can do with a ball —in most cases—, large or small, smooth or rough, know it. .

But with Luka Doncić, the Slovenian base of the Dallas Mavericks, there are certainties and not just guesses. At 23 years old, he has not only broken countless records in Europe, where he was champion of the Euroleague with Real Madrid, and in the NBA, where he has relieved on the throne of the Mavericks German legend Dirk Nowitzki.

Doncic he exhibits in his elegant game a wisdom and a character from remote times, as if he had come from the past. He is one of those who are born veterans. Otherwise it would not be possible to explain how he has carried on his shoulders a franchise that has only won one NBA ring in its history.

He moved from Slovenia to Madrid at the age of 13, and since then, he says in correct Spanish: he doesn’t know what pressure is, because he met it as a child. She was a professional with Real Madrid at the age of 16, and won everything until he left. Luka is a polished diamond in Europe who shines in the NBA.

Son of a basketball player without great genius and a former model and dancer, Luka Doncić He is a point guard with the stature of a small forward. Taller than Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. A giant point guard of 2.01 meters with a movement of feet that dazzles the audience and fools his markers: he faces them in slow motion so that they trust, because he always manages to overcome them.

With an Allen Iverson-style crossover, a rim penetration like ‘Manu’ Ginóbili, a triple like Stephen Curry, a jump shot like Kevin Durant, a fade away like ‘Black Mamba’ or a fantasy like ‘ Magic’ Johnson to enable his teammates. The Slovenian’s repertoire is wide, except for one NBA requirement, which the demanding American public has forgiven him. Doncic he doesn’t need to dunk the ball wildly and beat his chest like King Kong after shedding a hoop every week.

Theirs is the victory of beauty over brute force. The brains above the ‘coquitos’. Doncic he understands the game, he knows the fundamentals, and that takes over the muscles.

But it also has its limits. He continues to falter on defense. His team usually defends for him. On offense everything revolves around him. Not out of selfishness, but out of necessity. Unlike other franchises, no star has his back.

Since the 2010-2011 season, the Dallas Mavericks they were not contesting the Western Conference finals. Today (8:00 pm) they will receive the Golden State Warriors, with a 2-0 against. The dream of the possible, as against the Phoenix Suns who turned the series upside down, falls on Luka Doncic: the ‘Wonder Boy’ of the NBA.