Not only is Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic already looking like an MVP candidate at just 20 years old, but he also has some jokes up his sleeve.

When asked about why the Mavs have had so much success early in the season, Doncic joked that they no longer have to worry about opponents exploiting Dirk Nowitzki on the defensive end.

Nowitzki retired at the end of the 2018-19 season after spending the entirety of his 21-year career with the Mavs.

There was actually a time when Dirk was somewhat of a rim protector. He averaged at least one block per game in every season between 2000 and 2006. Nowitzki also had a run of decent defensive showings in the early 2000s, according to Basketball-Reference.

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Of course, Luka is not the most reputable of individual defenders himself. That said, the Mavs have improved their team defense in comparison to last season. Dallas entered Sunday's game against the Houston Rockets ranked 17th in defensive rating (108.8) after finishing 18th in the NBA (110.7) last year.

Still, there is no question that the Mavs' offense is the catalyst for their success, and Luka is at the center. Doncic was averaging nearly a 30-point triple-double entering Sunday's game, then proceeded to drop 41 points on Houston while also notching 10 assists and six rebounds.

The Mavs rank first in the NBA in offensive rating, and they rank second in the NBA in turnovers per game (13.1). As a result, Dallas is 11-5 and firmly in contention in the West.

Doncic may be the heir apparent to Nowitzki in Dallas, but even in jest he made sure to let the world know that the Mavericks are his team now.