Mavs Luka Doncic Selected for 3rd NBA All-Star Appearance
When it comes to Luka Doncic, there aren't many other superlatives that can be used to express just how special he is. The 22-year-old Dallas Mavericks superstar has already recorded two All-NBA First Team appearances, as well as numerous signature game-winning moments, both in the regular season and the playoffs, and a franchise record-breaking number of triple-doubles.
On Thursday, Doncic added 'NBA All-Star' to his resumé for the third-consecutive year. Although Doncic's slow start to the 2021-2022 campaign resulted in him not making the All-Star game as a starter this time around, his averages of 26.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 8.9 assists per games were too good not to have him join his peers on All-Star Weekend.
Doncic joins an exclusive list of six players to earn three All-Star appearances before turning 23 years old. That list includes: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Isiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis... and now Doncic.
In his first All-Star appearance during the 2019-2020 season, Doncic put up eight points and four assists while shooting 3-of-6 from the field in nearly 18 minutes of action. In his second All-Star appearance last season, Doncic again scored just eight points, shooting 3-of-7 from the field, but he doubled his assists by dishing out eight of them in 32 minutes.
As a reserve, will Doncic put on more of a show this time to remind everyone of how starter-worthy he is? Although that is possible, Doncic's demeanor in All-Star games so far in his career has been very laid back. He's just there to relax, throw a couple of alley-oops, attempt a couple of step-back threes, and rub elbows with his superstar buddy Nikola Jokic.
Despite missing multiple games this season due to ankle injuries and being in the NBA's COVID protocols, Doncic has led the Mavs to a 29-23 record, good for fifth-place in the Western Conference standings so far. With just 30 games remaining, Dallas trails Utah by just two games with three head-to-head matchups vs. the Jazz left on the schedule.
