Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki sees limitless potential for Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic. Nowitzki is towards the end of his career, but the future Hall of Famer is excited about the bright futures both these young stars have ahead of them.
“I think the sky’s the limit for (Doncic) and Dennis together,” Dirk Nowitzki said to Mavs.com. “I think they’re going to be great together.
Dennis Smith Jr. was considered a steal when he was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Luka Doncic was selected No. 3 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, but was acquired by the Mavericks in a trade shortly after. The 19-year-old has already been named the MVP of the EuroLeague, and is considered to be the most NBA-ready player in the latest draft class. Nowitzki had nothing but positive things to say about the duo.
“Dennis is real explosive, Luka is the passer and playing a little more under control. So I think they’re going to be playing off each other really, really well and we’re looking forward to them growing alongside each other hopefully for a long, long time.”
The Mavericks finished 13th in the Eastern Conference last year and missed the playoffs, which is uncommon for the successful franchise. While Smith showed tremendous potential, the team lacked a true star to lead their team. The 40-year-old Nowitzki may be one of the greatest players to ever grace the court, but father time is undefeated.
The development of their young stars will mark the beginning of a transitional period that may end more NBA Finals appearances for the Mavericks in the near future.
Follow Us
Subscribe