Ethe Slovenian Luka Doncic I presented this Sunday candidacy to go for the ring with the Dallas Mavericksafter leading a basketball recital with which his team passed over the Phoenix Suns in the decisive seventh game of the West semifinals. At the end of the duel, Doncic exchanged a heartfelt hug with the German Dirk Nowitzkithe man from whom he collected the legacy four years ago, honoring him based on performances for the history of the franchise.
The last time the Mavericks reached the Western Conference finals dated back to 2011, with Dirk Nowitzki leading and Jason Kidd, the current coach, as a point guard. Now Doncic is the star of a team to fight with Golden State Warriors to give yourself the opportunity to play the Finals.
“VSeeing Dirk gave us a lot of confidence. When you see Dirk in the pitchside seats, away from home, he gives you a lot of confidence. You know, Dirk is Dirk. We all appreciate you being here.“Doncic acknowledged at a press conference at the end of the Phoenix game.
This Sunday in Phoenix was a decisive moment, high tension and no margin for error. Once again, Doncic showed that this is his natural habitat and he destroyed the Suns from the first moment.
Meti 35 points and grabbed ten rebounds in just thirty minutes on the track. He signed 27 of them in the first half, shooting 9-for-12, when he single-handedly racked up as many points as the Suns, who disappeared into the Footprint Center tonight.
He continues to make history in the Dallas Mavericks and this Sunday he was supported by the 30 points of Spencer Dinwiddie. It was the first time in the last twenty years that two teammates had scored as many points in a seventh playoff game.
The last to achieve it were Kobe Bryant y Shaquille O’Nealwith the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002.
He has no doubt that his team is “special” and he was eager to get on the track to compete against the Warriors, a franchise that he sees with enough stripes to be champion.
“I’m having fun, and when I’m having fun, that’s when I play better.. But today the whole team was incredible, I never saw a performance like that in a seventh game and away from home,” Doncic said. “I’m so happy, you can’t take the smile off my face. We deserved it, we come here in a seventh game and we all hope to win. I’m very happy”.
FROM KROOS TO MAHOMES, SURRENDERED
The Slovenian had the support of Nowitzki in the seats at the foot of the field, but also with that of players like the German Toni Kroosmidfielder for Real Madrid, or Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL.
“How good is Luka Doncic?” Kroos wrote on his Twitter account during the match, seeing how the Slovenian chained spectacular plays.
“What madness!!!!! @ luka7doncic”, was the message published on the same social network by Patrick Mahomes.
And when Doncic, at the end of the game, heard their messages, he thanked them and invited Kroos to see the Mavericks in the ‘playoffs’ in Dallas.
“It has been incredible, I know that in Dallas they were supporting us. And above all thanks to Toni (Kroos). When Toni wins the Champions League, well, he’ll be here too (supporting us)“, assured in a press conference.