Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic managed to take home the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. It did not take long for Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki to congratulate him.
Doncic was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for Dallas. Nowitzki made sure to show his former teammate some love:
My guy!!! Well deserved https://t.co/fOhc9lDiJF
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) June 25, 2019
Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic only spent one season together. Regardless, it was enough for the veteran to effectively pass the torch on to the rookie. His award is just further proof of his claim to becoming the face of the franchise now that Nowitzki has retired.
There is no question that Doncic was certainly deserving of the honor. It is clear that the voters felt the same way after he fell just two votes short of being a unanimous pick. He finished the season averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. More importantly, his versatility and perseverance in the clutch have clearly earned him Nowitzki's blessing moving forward.
The Mavs made quite the investment last offseason in order to acquire Doncic. Among the assets they gave up was Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, who finished second in the voting. Even with the benefit of hindsight, it is safe to assume Dallas would make the deal all over again, especially after they made another splash by trading for New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis.
Dirk Nowitzki endured some rough years before his retirement, but he is confident that he has left the franchise in good hands with Doncic and Porzingis.
Follow Us
Subscribe