Last year, Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Dončič burst onto the scene with one of the best rookie season we've seen in a long time. The 20-year-old Slovenian star was immediately viewed as one of the future faces of the league. What most didn't realize is how quickly Dončič would become that kind of player.
The former No. 3 overall pick, a native of Slovenia, has elevated his game in his second year. He's become an unquestioned superstar for the Mavericks. The second-year phenom is already putting up MVP-caliber numbers and has led a Mavs squad that hasn't made the playoffs since 2015-16 to a 15-6 record through 21 games and a spot in second place in the tough Western Conference.
This season, Dončič is putting up 30.3 points (which ranks third in the league), 10.1 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three. With the Mavericks star playing at this near-unstoppable level, opposing coaches know how hard it is to try and stop Dončič. Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry is no different.
NOP coach Alvin Gentry on Luka: "You’d like to contain him. Everybody else tried to contain him. He’s averaging 30 points a game, so he’s pretty much done what he wanted with everyone. Just a really good player. You got to do the best you can with him." @dallasmavs #Mavs @NBA
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) December 7, 2019
After trading disgruntled superstar big man Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason, the Pelicans have struggled to find their footing in the new NBA season and sit at 6-16 on the year. New Orleans has also been without No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, after a knee injury has kept the former Duke star from making his first regular-season appearance.
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