Dallas Mavericks rookie sensation Luka Doncic will surely miss his now former teammate Salah Mejri. In fact, Doncic gives the 32-year old veteran a ton of credit for helping him transition into the NBA, according to Brice Paterik of Mavs Money Ball.
“I wouldn’t be the player I am today without @50Mejri helping me get through my first days here.” – Luka on how Salah Mejri helped him transition to the NBA.
— Brice Paterik 🌟 (@BricePaterik) February 9, 2019
Doncic, being a 19-year old kid from Europe, surely needed the guidance of a veteran to help him adjust to his new life as an NBA player in the United States. Apparently, he was able to find that guidance with the Tunisian center, who was his teammate with Real Madrid in the EuroLeague back in 2015.
Prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, Mejri said that he always thought Doncic was destined for stardom as he recalled how the then 16-year old performed against the grown men in the EuroLeague, per Dwain Price of mavs.com.
“He made a huge big shot to amp up the game to help us win the game, and since then he kept doing it throughout playoff games. He was only 16 and playing with grown men. He did a lot in the playoffs and it was in crunch time, so I guess he’s going to do the same here. He will not be afraid to play.”
The Mavericks recently cut Mejri this past Wednesday to open up a roster spot for new acquisitions Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph.
Mejri had fallen out of coach Rick Carlisle's rotation this season after playing 73 and 61 games respectively in the two seasons prior. He appeared in just 16 of Dallas' 53 contest. He actually drew his first start of the year in their game against the Detroit Pistons, after the Mavericks traded away starting center DeAndre Jordan. He was, unfortunately, let go of the team just a few days after.
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